Lomé, Togo — Togo don show say dem wan join Alliance of Sahel States (AES), wey get Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger wey dey led by military regimes. Dis move come through di mouth of Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, wey dey make big calls towards di AES.
For January, Dussey talk say dem go fit join, but last week, he go deeper for social media, talk say, “Togo dey consider to join AES, wey go fit strengthen regional cooperation and give dem access to di sea for di member countries.” Dis access matter na real big deal for di three landlocked Sahel countries.
Di AES don dey face tension with Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, wey dem dey accuse of being too pro-Western. Na im make AES turn eye for ports like Lomé or Tema for Ghana. As political analyst, Madi Djabakate, talk, “There dey hope for economic solidarity: access to Niger oil and renewed trade routes.” He add say, “Togo fit gain military cooperation wey go dey swift, plus intelligence sharing with dem neighbors,” while he dey speak to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Di northern part of Togo, wey border Burkina Faso, dey face serious attacks from jihadist groups wey don dey wreak havoc for di central Sahel for di past ten years. Even though di AES military regimes no don fit get control over di jihadists since dem take power through coups from 2020 to 2023, dem don announce plans to create a joint force wey go consist of 5,000 men. Togo dey see di sovereignty wey di AES dey preach as something positive.
Di AES regimes don turn dem back on France and Western partners, dey turn towards allies like Russia. Madi Djabakate also note say, “If Togo engage with AES, na for di bigger Pan-African narrative wey go unite nations wey dey divided for long time.”
For his own side, Togo President, Faure Gnassingbé, wey don dey in power since 2005, fit dey extend him tenure as long as he dey proclaim Pan-Africanism, wey don become popular among di people. Di military regimes for Sahel don refuse to hold elections soon, dey extend transition timelines for several years. Djabakate see Togo’s invitation to AES as “diversion tactics,” especially as opposition and civil society dey criticize di new Constitution wey dem pass one year ago, wey dey open door for Gnassingbé to maintain power indefinitely.
Francis Akindès, sociologist and professor from University of Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, talk say, “We dey face enduring power conservation logic, dey reject transition wey Togo dey share with AES countries.”
Nathaniel Olympio, one of di major opposition figures in Togo, argue say, “Di regime dey pressure di Togolese people with di AES membership plans. Joining AES go shield di regime from Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] rules wey dey promote rule of law and public freedoms.”
Di AES countries don even leave ECOWAS early dis year, accusing dem say di body dey too aligned with France and no dey effective for anti-jihadist fight. Seidik Abba, president of di International Center for Studies and Reflections on di Sahel, remind say, “Togo don dey keep warm relationship with di military regimes, even acting as mediator between ECOWAS and dem.”
Di big question wey remain be: fit Togo balance between AES membership and ECOWAS connection? Madi Djabakate emphasize say, “Alliances no be marriage but partnerships. Togo no dey turn back on ECOWAS. How dem go fit, when Lomé port dey critical for di region? Dis na strategy of ‘both/and’: dey remain rooted in one historic body while dey explore new paths.”
Seidik Abba raise concerns say, “For ECOWAS, Togo join AES fit quicken dia disintegration and worsen di already delicate situation.”
