Togo Basic Information

Togo is a West African country that borders Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana. It has a mixed economy with an emerging private sector, but the majority of the population is heavily dependent on commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for around 60% of the workforce. Although the country is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, it still has potential and offers opportunities for investment. Togo experienced a period of steady economic growth in the pre-pandemic years, fueled by political stability and a concerted government effort to modernize the country’s commercial infrastructure. The country has completed an ambitious large-scale infrastructure improvement program including new highways, a new airport terminal and a new seaport. Togo has not felt the brunt of the COVID-19 infections, but the effects of the pandemic have halted its dynamic economic performance. Real GDP, which grew by 5.3% in 2018 and 5.5% in 2019, grew by only 0.4% in 2020 due to a decline in foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and migrant remittances and a slowdown in global trade. In 2021, growth returned to 6.3%, which corresponds to pre-Covid values. Despite prudent monetary policy, inflation has more than doubled from 0.7% in 2019 to 1.6% in 2020, mainly due to supply disruptions. The budget deficit rose sharply, from 0.8% of GDP to 4.7% of GDP, as tax revenues fell and health spending rose as the government struggled to combat the pandemic. Deficits of 4.9% and 4.7% of GDP are forecast in 2021 and 4.7% in 2022 and 2023 Togo’s top exports are cement clinker, cotton, unground natural calcium phosphates, aluminum, sacks and bags, cosmetics, make-up and skin care products, while its top imports are petroleum oils, other mixed or unmixed drugs, motorcycles, palm oil and liquid fractions, and automobiles. Togo is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). It is also a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This Summary Territorial Information is processed for a country that is so-called accredited. The information is provided in an abbreviated form. This Summary Territorial Information is processed for a country that is so-called accredited. The information is provided in an abbreviated form. This Summary Territorial Information is processed for a country that is so-called accredited. The information is provided in an abbreviated form.

Basic information about the territory

Subchapters:

• System of governance and political tendencies in the country
• Foreign policy of the country
• Population

The system of governance and political tendencies in the country

The politics of Togo take place within the framework of a presidential republic, where the President of Togo is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the parliament. After gaining independence, the party system was first dominated by the authoritarian Congress for the People of Togo and later by its successor Union for the Republic. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The prime minister is appointed by the president. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has 81 members elected for five-year terms in single-member constituencies. Although there are 113 (2018) political parties in total, Togo is moving towards a de facto two-party system involving the ruling party UNIR and the National Alliance for Change (l’Alliance Nationale pour le Changement, ANC), which broke away from the Union of Forces for Change (l’Union des Forces de Changement, UFC) during a split within the major opposition party after losing the 2010 presidential election. The dissolution of the ruling RPT, the former Socialist Unity Party founded in 1969, and the creation of the modernized UNIR party in April 2012 was the ruling party’s response to accepting the demands of a modern multi-party system. The Togolese judiciary is based on the French system. There is a Court of Appeal (French: Cour d’Appel) and a Supreme Court (French: Cour Suprême). Togo is divided into five regions: Kara, Plateaux, Savanes, Centrale, Maritime. For administrative purposes, the regions are divided into 35 prefectures, each with an appointed prefect. The Gnassingbé clan has ruled the country since 1967. The demand for political change, initiated by institutional and electoral reforms, represented a major point of contention between the government and challengers to the Gnassingbé regime during the review period. An alliance of opposition parties and civil society groups organized peaceful demonstrations against the regime, which were often violently suppressed. Check cancermatters to learn more about Togo political system.

Foreign policy of the country

Considerable French influence is still evident in Togo, especially in connection with economic and security cooperation. But Togo also enjoys good cooperation with Germany and the USA. China also has a strong position in the country thanks to its investments. Togo plays an important role in ensuring regional security and is active within ECOWAS and the African Union. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey is the APC’s chief negotiator for the post-Cotonou deal with the EU. Togo has 800 troops in the MINUSMA mission in Mali. In connection with the degradation of the security situation in Burkina Faso, Togo began to cooperate more intensively with neighboring states (Ghana, Benin, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso) in the fight against terrorist and criminal groups. The states cooperate in sharing intelligence information and carry out joint exercises of the security forces. Check prozipcodes for Togo defense and foreign policy.

Population

Population: 8.28 million

Average annual population growth: 2.43%

The median age in Togo is 19.4 years

Population structure by age groups: 0-14 years: 39.73% 15-24 years: 19.03% 25-54 years: 33.26% 55-64 years: 4.42% 65 years and more: 3.57%