Togo Considering Membership of Confederation of Sahel States – Foreign Minister

The Togolese government is contemplating joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), now the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS). This move could enhance regional cooperation and provide landlocked member states with access to the sea. Robert Dussey, the Togolese Foreign Minister, suggested during an interview with Voxafrica in January 2025.

The statement has sparked widespread interest and is seen as a strategic shift in Togo’s foreign policy by positioning itself as a key maritime gateway for CSS countries. Togo aims to strengthen economic ties within the region while reinforcing its role as a crucial logistics hub in West Africa.

Dussey believes that Togo’s port infrastructure, particularly the Lomé Container Terminal, could serve as a vital transit point for CSS nations, which include Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These countries, which lack direct access to the sea, rely on coastal neighbours for trade and imports.

Today, African peoples everywhere want to be themselves, whether in Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Cameroon, or South Africa. We are not against anyone… The problem is that some of our partners want us to be at their service, so we say NO, he explained.

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