At the invitation of Her Excellency Elena Francia Márquez Mina, Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia, His Excellency Professor Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, participated from March 18 to 21, 2026 in Bogotá, Colombia, in the Africa-CELAC High-Level Forum organized under the theme: “Trade, Development Cooperation and Historical Reparations.”
THE FORUM IN FIGURES
This forum brought together Heads of State and Government from Africa and CELAC, representing 87 countries and nearly 2 billion inhabitants.
Its objective was to conduct in-depth consultations to strengthen cooperation, increase economic and commercial exchanges, and pursue discussions on the crucial issue of reparations for historical injustices suffered by African, Afro-descendant and indigenous peoples of the Americas.
TOGO’S PARTICIPATION
Minister DUSSEY, representing the President of the Council H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, took part in the Africa-CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government as well as the panel dedicated to historical reparations.
HIGH-LEVEL SESSION
During the high-level session, Minister DUSSEY welcomed the strengthening of Africa-CELAC relations and called, in the current global context, for making them a lever for economic, political and social transformation through:
- Increasing South-South trade
- Improving intercontinental connectivity and transport
- Reforming development cooperation
- Placing memory and restorative justice among the strategic priorities of both regions
PANEL ON HISTORICAL REPARATIONS
Prof. DUSSEY recalled the unimaginable tragedies — in terms of their gravity, duration and scale — endured without interruption for centuries by African peoples: slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, deportation, colonization, imperialism and neo-imperialism.
He deplored the fact that every time Africa and its diaspora raise the issue of reparations, signs of irritation and pressure emerge, with some parties going so far as to view the qualification of historical injustices as crimes as a provocation.
5 AXES OF ACTION PROPOSED BY TOGO
In response, Prof. DUSSEY called on African countries and CELAC to deepen reflection and take concerted action around five axes:
01 — Consolidating a common position and coordination
02 — Strengthening the legal framework for restorative justice
03 — Institutionalizing memory, research and the production of evidence
04 — Continuing the mobilization of States, civil society and expertise from all horizons
05 — Preparing for a long-term struggle
TOGO’S LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED
Participants commended Togo’s leadership on major African causes and the significant initiatives it has championed in recent years. They particularly welcomed the initiative relating to the celebration of the AFRICAN NEW YEAR, which aims to reaffirm the centrality of African identity and the pride of Africans and Afro-descendants in their history and culture.
BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE SIDELINES
On the sidelines of the forum, H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY held a courtesy meeting with H.E. Elena Francia Márquez Mina, Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia, to whom he conveyed the fraternal greetings of the President of the Council, H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE.
He also met with his Colombian counterpart, H.E. Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.
TOGO-COLOMBIA RELATIONS
Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the excellent cooperation between Togo and Colombia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1988, noting the signing of a memorandum of understanding on political consultations and a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic passport holders, signed in December 2025 in Lomé.
The ministers nonetheless noted the low level of economic and commercial exchanges between their two countries, due in part to connectivity and transport challenges and an insufficient technical cooperation framework.
UPCOMING AGREEMENTS
Both ministers agreed to work toward the early signing of agreements covering:
— Trade and investment
— Agriculture
— Air and maritime transport
— Industry, mining and services
MEMORANDUM ON ACADEMIC COOPERATION
On this occasion, both ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on academic cooperation, covering the training of diplomatic personnel, the exchange of information and experiences, and collaboration on research and studies on international issues.
Both ministers called for continued efforts toward an open, sincere and respectful dialogue that could lead to a recognition of the historical injustices suffered by African and Afro-descendant peoples and the indigenous peoples of the Americas, paving the way for historical reconciliation and the building of a peaceful and serene future.
INVITATION TO LOMÉ
Minister Robert DUSSEY invited his Colombian counterpart, Ms. Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy, to pay an official visit to Lomé in the near future. The invitation was accepted. The date of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
Done in Bogotá, March 22, 2026