Question 1
Good morning, Your Excellency. Your country, Togo, is preparing to launch a New Strategy for the Sahel. In the lead-up to this launch, it is more than logical to take stock of the first Strategy for the Sahel launched in September 2021.
So, Excellency, what were the reasons that led Togo to develop a Strategy for the Sahel in September 2021?
Good morning. At the outset of this interview, I would like to sincerely thank you for the attention you bring to Togo’s diplomatic action in the Sahel, particularly within the framework of the first Strategy for the Sahel. Regarding the reasons that led Togo to develop a Strategy for the Sahel, it should be stated at the outset — and it is no secret to anyone — that the Sahelian region has become a hotbed of terrorist violence, directly threatening the stability of the entire region. In this context, a country like ours, deeply committed to peace, cannot remain indifferent and be content with being a spectator, but must position itself as a committed actor for peace and regional stability.
Any threat to regional peace directly affects the well-being of our populations, who legitimately aspire to carry on their daily activities in a climate of serenity. It is in this spirit that Togo, under the leadership of the President of the Council, His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, undertook this initiative, having understood early on that the security threats from the Sahel would not stop at the Sahelian borders. They were already having direct repercussions on coastal countries. Our responsibility was to protect our populations and to contribute to regional stability. For Togo, regional peace and security cannot be fragmented. If the AES falters today, the entire region will be threatened. This initiative is not only a choice of lucidity, but also an expression of African fraternity and solidarity.
Question 2
What were the main pillars of this first strategy?
The Togolese government’s determination to actively contribute to Sahel stabilization and to the consolidation of peace in West Africa rests on a firm conviction: these goals cannot be achieved without coherent instruments and structured approaches. It is in this perspective that we designed this first strategy, articulated around four major, clear and complementary pillars:
The first pillar highlights the vital importance of regional and inter-regional cooperation in the service of peace and stability. The cooperation frameworks in which Togo is fully engaged — such as the Conseil de l’Entente, UEMOA and ECOWAS — have already implemented numerous counter-measures against the security threats affecting West Africa. Togo’s approach builds on this dynamic, providing complementary support and contributing to the consolidation of achievements, in order to strengthen collective effectiveness and the coherence of regional responses. True to this spirit, Togo reaffirms its commitment to solidarity and the pooling of efforts in the fight against terrorism. It committed to supporting any collective action aimed at promoting peace and strengthening stability, both at the regional and inter-regional levels.
The second pillar focuses on promoting the Togolese vision of peace, which we describe as positive peace. It aims to make an active contribution to peacebuilding in Africa, putting forward an approach that goes beyond the mere absence of conflict to promote lasting conditions of stability and prosperity. In a context marked by persistent security challenges in the Sahel, Togo proposes to share its model of positive peace, grounded in both preventive and proactive diplomacy, capable of anticipating crises and fostering concerted solutions. Beyond peace secured by force alone, this approach favors non-violent mechanisms for building and consolidating peace. It calls for mobilizing societal resources and human intelligence to build a safer and more sustainable environment. In this dynamic, traditional resources and approaches that promote peaceful coexistence are valued. By resolutely committing to this path, Togo intends to promote, in the Sahel region, a constructive and inclusive vision of peace, capable of strengthening stability and inspiring fruitful regional cooperation.
The third pillar is dedicated to supporting processes of political normalization, democratic transition and reconciliation efforts through mediation. You will agree with me that transition periods, often laden with multiple challenges and complex stakes, are simultaneously moments of uncertainty and opportunities for profound socio-political transformation. Our collective responsibility is to anticipate and prevent the occurrence of constitutional and democratic disorders. If they occur nonetheless, it is essential to accompany and support efforts toward political normalization, democratic transition and national reconciliation. Togolese diplomacy works through mediation, a culture of dialogue and the promotion of mutual understanding. The specific objective of this pillar is to provide political and diplomatic support to Sahelian countries engaged in democratic transitions, so as to contribute to repairing the social contract and consolidating lasting reconciliation in each of those countries.
As for the last pillar of the first strategy, it is part of a dynamic aimed at supporting responsible governance for greater social and economic inclusion in the Sahelian states. The objective is to foster credible institutions capable of responding to the aspirations of populations, while strengthening trust between governments and citizens. This pillar also emphasizes the need to encourage the participation of all social components, particularly young people and women, in order to build more resilient and equitable societies. Through this approach, Togo intends to contribute to strengthening a Sahelian social environment conducive to lasting stability and shared development in the region.
You know, there is an aspect that is often underestimated in contexts marked by security uncertainty: the fight against terrorism and the pursuit of peace in West Africa and the Sahel cannot be limited to military or security responses alone; they also require a strengthening of socioeconomic integration mechanisms. It is by combining institutional stability, social inclusion and shared development that we can hope to build solid foundations for lasting peace.
Question 3
What is the assessment today, more than four years later?
I can assure you that the path traveled within this strategy carries precious lessons. Togo, true to its vocation as a country of dialogue and mediation, has stood alongside its Sahelian and regional partners to accompany and strengthen the political transition processes in the three AES countries. Indeed, under the impetus of His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Council, Togo has consistently and rigorously led several peace initiatives in the sub-region. Togolese mediation notably distinguished itself in resolving the diplomatic crisis between CĂ´te d’Ivoire and Mali, which led to the release, on January 4, 2023, of the Ivorian soldiers.
In the same spirit of African solidarity and fraternity, Lomé remained at the side of the Burkinabe people and government during the delicate hours of its political transition. Togo played a mediation role for the release of certain VDP (Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland) of Burkina Faso in exchange for certain Ivorian soldiers detained in each country in 2024. Faced with the common challenge of terrorism along our borders, Togo and Burkina Faso work closely together and maintain a permanent dialogue framework and strengthened cooperation, a guarantee of shared stability and security.
Furthermore, the same solidarity-driven momentum and strengthened cooperation was demonstrated with the Republic of Niger from July 26, 2023. There again, Togo favored the path of wisdom, betting on dialogue and consultation as instruments for resolving the crisis. Carrying the message of peace during times of serious threats to peace remains very fundamental for Togo. It is this conviction that our country upheld in the case of Niger in 2023 within the framework of the first strategy. In an already very fragile regional environment, it was out of the question for Togo that the region should play with fire. Fortunately, reason eventually prevailed.
Thus, the assessment we make today is one of constant commitment, proactive diplomacy and an unwavering will to promote peace and stability in our region. Togo, true to its identity as a land of mediation, continues to stand alongside its African brothers to build a common future founded on solidarity, security and shared prosperity.
Certainly, security challenges persist. But we have proven that together we can protect our populations against a complex cross-border threat. This assessment is also a choice of sovereignty: we have affirmed that Togo would not remain a spectator of the Sahel crises, but a committed actor in prevention and cooperation. Our determination remains intact, as we know that the stability of the Sahel and that of the Gulf of Guinea countries are inseparable.
Question 4
How has Togo’s first strategy for the Sahel contributed to regional stability and multilateral cooperation?
Within the framework of the first Strategy for the Sahel, our country contributed to regional stability and multilateral cooperation in three essential ways: First, through mediation and dialogue, which made it possible to defuse sensitive crises and restore trust between neighboring states. Second, through support for political transitions, where Togo played a facilitating role, keeping channels of communication with the international community open even during moments of acute tension. Finally, through security and multilateral cooperation, by strengthening solidarity in the face of terrorism.
Question 5
What are the persistent security challenges and how does Togo plan to address them?
The major challenges remain cross-border terrorism, organized crime and radicalization. Our response is grounded in a holistic and integrated approach: a firm military response, building the capacity of defense and security forces, sharing intelligence and expertise, inclusive local development and close cooperation with communities are at the heart of our priorities. We believe that the resilience of populations is our best weapon. Our approach to the fight against terrorism should integrate the social and development dimensions, because we know that violent extremism and cross-border insecurity thrive on the soil of poverty, exclusion and despair. It is in this perspective that the Togolese vision places particular emphasis on the complementarity between the military response and development actions.
Thus, alongside border security operations, we have launched initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of local communities and the effective presence of the State in remote areas through the construction of basic infrastructure. The launch of the Emergency Program for the Savanes Region (PURS) in 2022 perfectly illustrates this orientation. It promotes the creation of basic infrastructure, access to education and healthcare, as well as support for income-generating activities. These actions contribute to reducing the vulnerability of populations, offering prospects for young people and strengthening social cohesion. Similarly, vocational training and microfinance programs have been put in place to encourage economic autonomy, while agricultural projects support food security in border areas. These efforts, combined with military vigilance, reflect our conviction that lasting peace can only be achieved by simultaneously addressing the root causes of insecurity. It is this synergy between security and development that constitutes the foundation of our fight against terrorism.
Question 6
What has been the level of international cooperation Togo has benefited from in implementing this first strategy?
We benefit from the support of bilateral and multilateral partners, including friendly nations and the United Nations. This support takes the form of funding, training and equipment. But beyond assistance, it is the recognition of Togo’s role as a credible and committed actor in peacebuilding in Africa, and particularly in the Sahel, that is essential.
Question 7
Your Excellency, your country is preparing to launch a New Strategy for the Sahel. What justifies today the need to move toward this New Strategy?
As you know, Togo’s action and engagement in the Sahel have been deployed over the past four years within the framework of the first strategy. However, the persistence of terrorism in the Sahelian countries and the intensification of the threat in the northern parts of the coastal states of the Gulf of Guinea with repeated attacks, the geopolitical reshaping that has occurred in West Africa with the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and the need to contribute to strengthening regional stability and economic and commercial relations between the Sahel and Togo have made it necessary to move toward the elaboration of a New Togo Strategy for the Sahel. Defining a New Strategy for the Sahel allows Togo to integrate into its regional action the developments of recent years that are very significant for the West African region.
Question 8
How does Togo, which is close to the AES states, balance its relations with international partners?
Our line is clear and constant: cooperate without depending, engage in dialogue without renouncing our sovereignty. Togo maintains constructive relations with its international partners, whether traditional partners or newcomers, but always in respect of our national interests. We believe that Togo’s strength lies in its ability to build bridges without allowing itself to be locked into dependencies. It is this balanced posture — open but firm, pragmatic but sovereign — that confers credibility and respect upon us on the regional and international stage.
By drawing closer to the AES states, we affirm our willingness to maintain pragmatic cooperation in the face of common threats. By consolidating our relations with our external partners, we demonstrate that Togo is a reliable and independent actor, capable of engaging with everyone without ever compromising its autonomy. Our commitment is simple: Togo cooperates with all, but remains master of its choices. It is this assumed independence that makes us a respected partner and a credible mediator in the region and at the continental level.