Togo has experienced several terrorist attacks since late 2021 in the Northern border with Burkina Faso. Military and other security posts are the targets of most attacks. As the threat continues to move towards coastal states, it is estimated that Togo and other states along the coast are in danger of further attacks.
Togo is a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea. It is known for its palm-lined beaches and hilltop villages. Its capital is Lome. Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, whose economy depends highly on agriculture. While the official language is French, many other languages are spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group consists of those with indigenous beliefs, and there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophonie, and Economic Community of West African States.
Togo’s transition to democracy is stalled. Its democratic institutions remain nascent and fragile. President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo under a one-party system, died of a heart attack on 5 February 2005. Instead of the Speaker of Parliament, his son Faure Eyadema replaced him as President. In the 2005 elections, up to 400 people were killed in the violence surrounding the presidential elections, according to the UN. Around 40,000 Togolese fled to neighboring countries. Gnassingbé was reelected in 2010 and 2015.
As the terrorists continue to pursue their expansionist agenda, Togo stands a higher risk of further attacks.
