Togo: Lomé, a pillar of regional trade and a strategic hub that boosts trade with the Sahel

According to data published by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), in 2023, Togo exported goods worth over 433 billion CFA francs to its neighbors in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), mainly to Sahelian countries such as Burkina Faso (100 billion CFA) and Mali (94.8 billion CFA). These exports accounted for 66% of the country’s total exports.

This increase in Togolese exports to the Sahel in 2023 reflects a strategic vision driven by the country’s highest authorities. With more than 433 billion CFA francs in exported goods—over two-thirds of which went to Burkina Faso, Benin, and Mali—Togo reaffirms its role as a regional logistics and economic hub.

This performance is underpinned by efficient infrastructure, particularly the Autonomous Port of Lomé, which remained accessible to Sahelian countries even during ECOWAS sanctions. Togo’s sovereign decision to keep the port open despite external pressures demonstrates its pragmatic solidarity with its landlocked neighbors and strengthens economic ties with the AES bloc.

A trade surplus of over 226 billion CFA francs further highlights the effectiveness of this policy of openness and integration. It also reflects the growing trust of Sahelian partners in the Togolese trade corridor, which has become essential for regional commerce.

This geostrategic positioning, backed by proactive leadership, places Togo at the heart of regional growth and economic interdependence dynamics.