Togo in November 2025: Balancing Economic Ambitions with Security Threats

November 2025 presented Togo with a striking contrast: the small West African nation pursued ambitious economic partnerships and positioned itself as a regional business hub, even as jihadist insurgents from neighboring Burkina Faso intensified their deadly incursions into the country’s northern regions. This duality captured the complex reality facing President Faure Gnassingbé’s government as it sought to modernize the economy while confronting an expanding security crisis that threatens to destabilize the entire nation.

Growing Russian Influence: Embassy Opening Signals Strategic Shift

One of the most significant diplomatic developments in November came on November 20, when President Vladimir Putin and Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbé announced that Russia and Togo would open embassies in each other’s capitals in 2026. The announcement marked a milestone in relations between the two countries, which had maintained diplomatic ties for 65 years without establishing permanent embassies.

The move reflects Russia’s broader push to expand its presence across Africa, particularly in the security sphere. Earlier in 2025, Togo signed a military cooperation agreement with Moscow, aligning itself with other African nations that have turned to Russia for security assistance. The decision comes as Togo struggles to contain a jihadist insurgency that has killed at least 62 people since January 2025—more than double the official death toll for all of 2023.

Russia’s growing role in Africa has been particularly pronounced in the Sahel region, where it has established defense partnerships with military juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. These countries have distanced themselves from France and embraced Russian support, including the deployment of mercenaries to combat jihadist groups. For Togo, the Russian partnership represents a potential security lifeline as traditional Western partners struggle to contain the spillover violence from the collapsing security situation in Burkina Faso.

UK-Africa Trade Summit Brings Business Leaders to Lomé

In a demonstration of Togo’s economic aspirations, the country hosted the West and Central Africa Forum IV on November 12-13, the first time the UK-organized event has been held outside London since its launch in 2022. Over 560 delegates from 442 companies gathered in Lomé, representing business leaders from ten rapidly growing African economies alongside leading UK companies and investors.

The forum focused on infrastructure development, renewable energy, green growth, and digital transformation—sectors critical to both African development and UK export opportunities. UK Export Finance (UKEF) used the platform to help Francophone private-sector companies access competitive financing while opening new markets for British exporters.

The decision to hold the summit in Lomé signaled the UK’s commitment to deepening African partnerships beyond rhetoric. For Togo, hosting such a high-profile event provided an opportunity to showcase its improving business climate and position itself as a stable investment destination in a troubled region. The timing was strategic: despite the security challenges in the north, Togo has maintained relative stability in the capital and southern regions, where most economic activity is concentrated.

Digital Transformation Takes Center Stage

Togo’s commitment to technological advancement was on display during the Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in Western and Central Africa, held in mid-November. The summit aimed to assess progress toward the African Union’s 2030 digital transformation goals, bringing together government officials, technology leaders, and development partners.

The country has been developing a national artificial intelligence strategy to guide the use of AI in public administration. This initiative reflects broader efforts to modernize government services and improve efficiency through technology adoption. In a tangible example of expanding digital access, Internet Society Togo launched a community wireless network in the village of Atti-Akakpé, aiming to improve connectivity in rural areas where internet access remains limited.

These digital initiatives are part of Togo’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on traditional sectors like agriculture and port services. The government has prioritized creating an enabling environment for technology startups and digital innovation, hoping to attract investment and create jobs for the country’s youthful population.

Economic Forums Strengthen Bilateral Ties

On November 24, Togo hosted an economic forum with Egypt in the coastal city of Aného, alongside the Aného International History Festival. The event, organized by Togo’s Ministry Delegate for Investment Promotion in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo, focused on strengthening economic cooperation in key sectors including agribusiness, textiles, healthcare, energy, infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals.

The forum built on a successful Togo-Turkey economic forum held in 2024 and reflected Togo’s strategy of cultivating diverse economic partnerships. Egypt’s Ambassador to Togo had previously expressed Egyptian companies’ interest in the Togolese market, particularly in agri-food, infrastructure, and textile sectors. The two countries have signed several partnership agreements covering energy, urban planning, housing, sanitation, and culture as part of their bilateral cooperation.

These economic initiatives demonstrate Togo’s efforts to leverage its location and improving business climate to attract foreign investment. The country has made significant strides in recent years on the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings, implementing reforms to streamline business registration, construction permits, trading across borders, and access to electricity.

Hospitality Sector Gains Regional Recognition

Togo’s tourism and hospitality sector received a boost when the country hosted the Hospitality Awards Africa on November 29 at the luxurious five-star Hotel 2 Fevrier in Lomé. The seventh edition of the awards, held under the theme “Celebrating Africa’s Authentic Hospitality Culture,” brought together the continent’s most distinguished hoteliers, restaurateurs, and tourism innovators.

This marked the first time in the award’s seven-year history that the ceremony was held outside Ghana, representing a strategic rotation designed to showcase different African nations’ hospitality sectors. For Togo, hosting the event provided a platform to highlight its tourism potential and world-class services to an international audience. The awards honored individuals and establishments that achieve excellence in service and innovation while preserving the authentic essence of African hospitality.

The event underscored Togo’s aspirations to develop its tourism industry as an economic pillar. Despite the security challenges in the north, the capital Lomé and southern coastal regions remain relatively safe and have seen growing investment in hospitality infrastructure. The country’s beaches, vibrant culture, and improving services have begun attracting more regional and international visitors.

The Expanding Jihadist Threat

Beneath these signs of economic progress lurked a growing security crisis that threatens to undermine Togo’s development trajectory. Throughout November, the government maintained an information blackout about the extent of jihadist violence, but reports from security analysts and international observers painted an alarming picture.

Since January 2025, jihadist groups originating in Burkina Faso—primarily Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)—have escalated incursions into northern Togo. The violence, which began in the border region of Kpendjal Prefecture, has spread southward to Oti and South Oti prefectures, exposing a widening arc of ungoverned territory. Security specialists note that the jihadist advance has been slow and methodical, making it easier for the threat to fly under international radar despite its deadly consequences.

Foreign Minister Robert Dussey’s rare admission in November that at least 62 people had been killed since January represented more than double the government’s official 2023 fatality count. However, independent analysts believe the actual death toll may be significantly higher, given the government’s policy of informational lockdown. The lack of media coverage stems partly from official restrictions and partly from the government’s desire to avoid sapping the morale of soldiers fighting the insurgency.

Strategic Implications of Burkina Faso’s Collapse

The root of Togo’s security crisis lies in the catastrophic collapse of security in neighboring Burkina Faso, where JNIM has seized multiple towns and established forward operating bases dangerously close to Togo’s eastern border. In May 2025, JNIM fighters overran the garrison at Diapaga—just 25 kilometers from Togo’s border—looting weapons, vehicles, and ammunition. They followed this with a coordinated assault on Djibo, demonstrating enhanced capabilities to conduct multi-front offensives and sustain territorial control.

These developments place jihadist elements directly on Togo’s doorstep. Togolese border outposts in the Cinkassé and Dapaong prefectures now face imminent risk of raids, kidnappings, and smuggling operations by well-armed militants. The situation is particularly precarious because both captured towns anchor the vital Lomé-Sahel corridor—the main overland artery linking the port of Lomé to Fada-N’Gourma, Ouagadougou, and onward into Niger and Mali.

Any disruption or jihadist takeover of this route could sever essential trade flows, eliminate transit revenues for Togo, and drive up import costs across the Sahel. Given that Togo’s economy relies heavily on its role as a transit hub for landlocked Sahelian countries, the economic implications of losing control over this corridor would be devastating. The port of Lomé serves as a critical gateway for goods destined for Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, generating substantial revenue and employment.

Regional Spillover and Broader Implications

Togo’s security crisis is part of a broader pattern of jihadist expansion across West Africa’s coastal states. Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana have all suffered attacks in their northern regions bordering Burkina Faso. JNIM has demonstrated its intent to establish a presence beyond the Sahel, recruiting militants from coastal countries and conducting targeted media campaigns to attract support from marginalized ethnic groups, particularly the Fulani.

In late October 2025, JNIM recorded its first attack on Nigerian soil, signaling its ambition to expand into West Africa’s most populous nation. The group’s growing capabilities and geographic reach pose an existential threat to regional stability. If current trends continue, the jihadist insurgency could transform the entire Gulf of Guinea coast into a conflict zone, with devastating consequences for economic development, humanitarian conditions, and political stability.

Burkina Faso’s internal displacement figures have climbed into the millions, and a potential influx of refugees into northern Togo threatens to overwhelm local services and worsen shortages of food, shelter, and healthcare. Historically, Togo relied on Burkina Faso as a security buffer, trusting its neighbor’s military to keep jihadists at bay. That buffer has now effectively collapsed, leaving Togo to directly confront a threat it is poorly equipped to handle.

Government Response and International Cooperation

In response to the escalating threat, President Gnassingbé has taken direct responsibility for defense matters, replacing military leadership and significantly increasing defense spending. Between 2017 and 2022, defense expenditures jumped from 8.7 percent to 17.5 percent of the national budget. The government has announced plans to recruit thousands of new soldiers and gendarmes by 2025, and has acquired military equipment including helicopters from Russia and France.

Despite these efforts, the military response has shown limited success in stemming the jihadist advance. Security analysts argue that a purely military approach is insufficient and that the government must also address the underlying factors driving recruitment to jihadist groups. These include chronic underdevelopment in the north, limited economic opportunities, ethnic marginalization, and weak governance structures that leave communities vulnerable to extremist messaging.

Togo has participated in regional security initiatives, including the Accra Initiative, a partnership of West African countries focused on intelligence sharing, joint border operations, and counterterrorism training. In November 2022, members announced the creation of a 10,000-strong multinational joint force, though its implementation has been slow. Togo also participated in Operation Screen West Africa 2025, an INTERPOL-coordinated border security operation that ran from July to October and led to arrests of individuals suspected of connections with terrorism.

The decision to partner with Russia on security matters reflects growing frustration with traditional Western approaches that have failed to contain the jihadist expansion. However, the effectiveness of Russian assistance remains uncertain, and critics worry that increased Russian military cooperation could come at the cost of democratic governance and human rights protections.

The Information Blackout and Its Consequences

One of the most concerning aspects of Togo’s response to the crisis has been the government’s policy of informational lockdown. Political scientist Madi Djabakate noted that the lack of coverage in the Togolese press stems from the government’s deliberate strategy to suppress information about jihadist attacks and military casualties. This approach aims to maintain morale among troops and avoid panic among the civilian population, but it also prevents informed public debate about security policies and hinders accountability.

The information blackout has several negative consequences. It prevents citizens from taking appropriate precautions in affected areas, makes it difficult for humanitarian organizations to assess needs and deliver assistance, and allows the government to avoid scrutiny over the effectiveness of its counterterrorism efforts. It also means that the international community may underestimate the severity of the threat, potentially delaying critical support and resources.

Security analysts tracking the conflict note that December 2022 was the last month without a recorded attack in Togo, indicating that the country has experienced sustained jihadist violence for over two years. The expansion of attacks from Kpendjal into Oti and South Oti prefectures demonstrates that the security situation is deteriorating rather than improving, despite increased military spending and the deployment of additional forces.

Economic Development Amid Security Challenges

The juxtaposition of economic forums, trade summits, and hospitality awards with an expanding jihadist insurgency encapsulates the contradictions facing contemporary Togo. The government is attempting to maintain an image of stability and progress to attract foreign investment, even as significant portions of the national territory slip beyond effective government control.

This strategy carries significant risks. If the security situation continues to deteriorate, it could eventually affect the capital and southern regions where economic activity is concentrated. A major terrorist attack in Lomé or disruption of the vital port facilities would shatter the perception of stability and likely trigger capital flight. The economic costs of the expanding insurgency are already substantial, including military expenditures, lost productivity in affected areas, and reduced trade flows through the Lomé-Sahel corridor.

However, the government’s focus on economic development is not without logic. Improving living conditions, creating jobs, and expanding opportunities—particularly in the marginalized northern regions—could help address some of the root causes that make communities vulnerable to jihadist recruitment. Infrastructure development, investment in education and healthcare, and programs to support small businesses could strengthen social cohesion and increase citizens’ stake in the state’s success.

The emergency aid program launched in 2023 to improve living conditions for Togolese in the north represents one effort to address these underlying issues, though its effectiveness remains unclear. The challenge for the government is balancing immediate security needs with long-term development investments, all while managing limited financial resources and competing priorities.

Looking Ahead: Togo at a Critical Juncture

As November 2025 drew to a close, Togo found itself at a critical juncture. The country’s strategy of pursuing economic growth and international partnerships while downplaying security threats cannot be sustained indefinitely. The jihadist insurgency is not a temporary problem that will resolve itself; without effective action, it will continue to expand and potentially engulf larger portions of the country.

The international community faces difficult choices about how to support Togo and other coastal West African states now confronting jihadist threats. Traditional counterterrorism approaches focusing primarily on military solutions have failed in the Sahel, where insurgencies have only grown stronger despite billions of dollars in security assistance and the deployment of thousands of troops. A more comprehensive approach addressing governance, development, and the legitimate grievances of marginalized communities is needed, but such efforts require sustained commitment and resources that may not be forthcoming.

For ordinary Togolese, particularly those in the north, the expanding violence has brought fear, displacement, and economic hardship. Communities that once enjoyed relative peace now face the threat of attacks, while government restrictions on movement and military operations disrupt daily life. The information blackout means many citizens lack reliable information about the true extent of the threat, leaving them unable to make informed decisions about their safety.

November 2025 will be remembered as a month when Togo’s two realities—economic ambition and security crisis—coexisted in increasingly precarious balance. The trade summits and diplomatic announcements projected an image of a nation on the rise, confidently engaging with international partners and positioning itself as a regional hub. But beneath this veneer, the slow-motion collapse of security in the north threatened to undermine everything the government was attempting to achieve.

Whether Togo can successfully navigate these challenges—containing the jihadist threat while continuing to attract investment and drive economic development—remains an open question. The answer will depend not only on the government’s policies but also on regional cooperation, international support, and the broader trajectory of the Sahelian crisis. What is clear is that the stakes could not be higher: failure could transform Togo into another failed state in a region that has already seen too many security collapses, while success could provide a model for how coastal states can resist the southward expansion of jihadist violence.

For President Gnassingbé, who has ruled Togo since 2005 and whose family has controlled the country since 1967, the security crisis represents perhaps the most serious challenge of his tenure. How he navigates this threat will shape not only his own legacy but the future of Togo itself.