Togo - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Togo constitutional changes spark calls for popular protests

SOME of Togo's opposition parties and civil society groups renewed their calls for widespread popular protests a day after lawmakers approved constitutional changes likely to extend the 19-year rule of President Faure Gnassingbe. In a statement, the Dynamique pour la Majorité du Peuple (DMP) opposition coalition and other signatories said the changes, relating to presidential term limits and how presidents are elected, were a political manoeuvre to allow Gnassingbe to extend his tenure for life. "What happened at the National Assembly yesterday is a coup d'etat," they said, noting that the text had not been made public and reiterating calls…

Mar

2024

By CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Congo and Togo record Africa’s highest increase in happiness levels

NEWS

THE Republic of Congo and Togo are among the countries that have seen happiness levels amongst their citizens increase the most over the past 12 years. The two African countries are listed among seventeen countries globally that recorded increases in average life evaluations of a full point or more. The World Happiness Report 2024 ranks the Republic of Congo in fourth place globally (with 1.40 points) for the biggest increase in happiness levels, after Serbia (1.84 points), Bulgaria (1.57 points) and Latvia (1.47 points ), mostly thanks to increases among their youth populations. Togo closed the world’s top 10 most…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

China to support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security -Wang Yi

NEWS

CHINA will continue to firmly support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while visiting the African country, according to a ministry statement on Wednesday. China's top diplomat made the remarks as he visited several African countries over the past few days. Wang will travel to Brazil and Jamaica from January 18-22.

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to travel to Africa in Jan

NEWS

CHINA'S foreign minister Wang Yi will travel to Africa and visit Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire from January 13-18, China's foreign ministry said. The visit will mark the 34th consecutive year in which the foreign minister has gone to Africa for their first overseas trip of the year, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference. Wang will also visit Brazil and Jamaica from January 18-22, Mao added.

Togo Independence Day

Independence Day: April 27th, 1960 Togo, officially the Togolese Republic (French: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its capital, Lomé, is located. It covers about 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 square miles) with a population of approximately 8 million and has a width of less than 115 km (71 mi) between Ghana and its eastern neighbour Benin. From the 11th to the 16th century, tribes entered the region from various directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a trading centre for Europeans to purchase slaves,…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Togo’s new container terminal biggest in West Africa, signals country’s larger logistics ambitions

NEWS

BIRD STORY AGENCY TOGO'S maritime economy is poised for growth with the newly commissioned container terminal at the Autonomous Port of Lomé. On March 20, the Togolese government commissioned the Lome Container Terminal (LCT), which allows the port to clear at least 2.2 million containers annually, up from the 1.6 million it cleared in 2022. The extension solidifies Togo's position as a vital hub for maritime trade in West Africa. The port of Lomé now has two terminals, the new LCT and Bollore, with LCT operating on a 53 hectares site with a 1050-meter quay. "The port of Lomé is…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Togo villagers flee to urban centres after militant attacks

NEWS

CIVILIANS in a part of northern Togo attacked by suspected Islamist militants last week have been fleeing their homes en masse to seek refuge in nearby cities, a local mayor said. More than 25 people were killed in the attacks on four villages in the Kpendjal district, near the border with Burkina Faso, two local activists told Reuters. The government said a number of people were killed but did not say how many. "People are leaving their villages en masse," Arzoume Sambiani, the mayor of a part of Kpendjal, said in a statement on Monday. He urged civilians to return…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Togo culls birds, after avian flu outbreak

NEWS

TOGO has culled hundreds of birds, quarantined a poultry farm, closed a local bird market and banned the movement of poultry following an avian flu outbreak, the government has announced. The statement did not specify the type of flu but said hundreds of birds had been incinerated and eggs destroyed to stop its spread.

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Charity uses mobile phone data to identify aid recipients in Togo

SCIENCE, TECH AND INNOVATION

SONIA ELKS A U.S.-based nonprofit that is using algorithms to identify people living in extreme poverty by analysing their mobile phone habits has made direct cash payments to 30,000 people as part of a pioneering project in Togo. GiveDirectly worked with the government of the West African nation and experts at the University of California, Berkeley, for the high-tech approach to find some of the country's poorest people. They use satellite data to identify poor areas, and then harness machine learning to comb mobile phone metadata to identify those living in extreme poverty. Potential recipients are contacted by phone and…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Togo names new government with record number of women ministers

NEWS

TOGO’S first female prime minister has appointed a new government with a record 30% of the 33 ministerial positions given to women, according to the cabinet list announced on state television. Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe, who was appointed earlier this week after the resignation of the previous government, named Essozimna Marguerite Gnakade as defence minister - the first time a woman has held that role. President Faure Gnassingbe The change in government had been expected since President Faure Gnassingbe won re-election in March, extending his 15-year rule and a family dynasty that began when his father took power in a…