Source : Sahel weather July & august 2024 

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Togo is at a crossroads between the fight against terrorism and political reform. Security pressure due to the advance of terrorist groups from the Sahel towards coastal countries has exposed the country to jihadist attacks. The north, bordering Benin and Burkina Faso, is paying the price of extremist violence orchestrated by fighters from the Etat Islamique au Grand Sahara (EIGS) and the Groupe de Soutien à l'Islam et aux Musulmans (GSIM). In the face of rising jihadist fury, the Togolese government is taking a resilient stance in the fight against violent extremism by adopting a mixed approach.

To respond to this crisis, it combines a military approach with human security strategies. The latter took shape with the adoption, in 2022, of the emergency program for the Savanes region. The aim of this program is to reduce social inequalities between major cities and border regions, in order to combat the marginalization that leads to extremism. In addition, local authorities have incorporated extremism prevention into their communal development plans, with the aim of integrating "security aspects into development projects to better protect local populations and guarantee sustainable development in a context of heightened vulnerability", according to Lieutenant-Colonel Yanani Tiekabe.

Despite the efforts made in the fight against terrorism in the north of the country, Togo suffered another attack in August; although the Togolese army has relied heavily on anticipation, using human intelligence to thwart the planned attacks by extremist groups. However, sustainable development approaches are relevant in the fight against violent extremism when used as a preventive means to prevent jihadist groups from finding fertile ground for their development within local communities. Jihadist groups often take advantage of tense political contexts, when public opinion is preoccupied with other imperatives, to advance discreetly.  

Public opinion in Togo is polarized by the political reforms between a new Constitution, the country's integration into the Commonwealth, the resignation of the government and the appointment of a new transitional government team for the full establishment of the 5th Republic. Faced with these reforms and the uncertainties that accompany them, periods of transition can lead to political unrest. The new Constitution, which marks the end of presidential rule in favor of a parliamentary system, was adopted by parliamentary vote, in a "monocolored" national assembly following the boycott of legislative elections by the Togolese opposition in 2018. Indeed, the boycott of these elections by the main opposition parties seems to have created a gulf between voters and political organizations, which have since struggled to mobilize the popular masses in the face of what they describe as a "constitutional coup d'état" by those in power.