Latest news with #Togo
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Togo: African Development Bank strengthens partnership with civil society
The African Development Bank ( held its first-ever Civil Society Open Day in Lomé, Togo, on 3 June. The event brought together representatives from the Togolese government, around 30 national and international civil society organisations (CSOs), and Bank staff — all committed to strengthening development partnerships in Togo. The key personalities at the event all emphasised this shared vision. Opening the event, Stéphane Akaya, Secretary General of Togo's Ministry of Economy and Finance, stressed the importance of civil society: "This open day with the African Development Bank reaffirms our joint commitment to inclusive and transparent progress. We are seeking to strengthen a tripartite partnership, where civil society is engaged from conception through to evaluation in order to ensure effective, people-centred development." Seconding Mr Akaya's point, Wilfrid Abiola, Head of the Togo Country Office of AfDB Group, said: "The African Development Bank Group remains committed to strengthening collaboration with Togolese civil society, which is a key player in sustainable development.' The CSO Open Day in Lomé aimed to strengthen collaboration between the Bank and civil society by sharing information on the Bank's development operations and projects in Togo. It also sought to encourage dialogue on the role of CSOs throughout the project cycle — from planning and preparation to implementation, supervision, and completion. "We are keen to strengthen our partnership with civil society organisations in Togo, encouraging open dialogue and promoting their full participation in the projects that we support," Zeneb Touré, Head of the AfDB's Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, said. Minemba Traore, Senior Civil Society Officer for West Africa at the Bank Group, shared information on the institution's engagement with CSOs, while Ndey Oley Cole, Senior Programme Officer in the AfDB's Gender, Women and Civil Society Department, presented a summary of the exchanges. Key outcomes and next steps from the discussions included: Greater involvement of civil society: CSOs will be included in all phases of development projects. Creation of a formal dialogue platform: The Bank, government, and CSOs will work together to establish a permanent forum for ongoing consultation. Capacity building for CSOs: Training will be provided in project monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, and market access strategies. Improved communication: The Bank will share information on its activities in Togo in a more dynamic and accessible way, better meeting the needs of partners and the public. Promotion of social inclusion and diversity: Efforts will be made to ensure greater participation of young people and women in development initiatives. Development of a detailed action plan: Concrete deliverables and clear deadlines will guide follow-up and ensure effective implementation of commitments. The Open Day laid the foundations for closer partnerships, which can provide spaces for exchange, consultation and collaboration between the Bank, CSOs and other stakeholders in Togo. Such an approach will enable the AfDB to better understand local priorities, discuss partnership opportunities and receive input from civil society on the projects that it finances in Togo. The initiative is aligned with the Bank Group's Civil Society Engagement Action Plan 2024-2028, which was approved last year. Under Pillar 3 of this action plan, particular attention will be paid to strengthening dialogue with civil society organisations in the countries where the Bank works. Holding of civil society open days in regional member countries of the Bank is a key mechanism for operationalising this commitment. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Link to photo album:
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
African country suspends two French news agencies
Togo has suspended French state-funded broadcasters France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) for three months, accusing them of repeatedly violating journalistic standards, including 'impartiality, rigor, and verification of facts.' The West African country's High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) announced the decision on Monday, stating that content aired by the two outlets had the potential to disrupt public order and threaten the stability of Togo's institutions. 'Several recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, biased, and even factually inconsistent statements, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image,' the HAAC said in a statement. The move comes amid tensions over recent constitutional changes passed in May that granted Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe the title of President of the Council of Ministers – an unelected position with no term limit. RFI and France 24 had been covering protests by opposition parties, which denounce the change as a 'constitutional coup' and accuse the government of seeking to extend Gnassingbe's rule indefinitely. Togo's media regulator said it had previously warned the French outlets during last year's constitutional reform debates over 'unfair treatment of information' and the 'dissemination of false news about the country.' 'Pluralism of opinions does not allow the dissemination of untruths or the partial presentation of current events,' HAAC stated. RFI and France 24 responded jointly, saying they were 'surprised' to learn of the suspension of their programming in Togo 'without notice.' 'RFI and France 24 reiterate their commitment to continuing to adhere to journalistic standards, and to supporting their staff, who deliver authentic, high-quality, impartial and accurate news every day, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed between HAAC and France Médias Monde,' they stated. The broadcasters said their management stands ready to engage in dialogue with the Togolese authorities to resolve any 'misunderstandings.' Similar restrictions on Western news agencies have been imposed in recent years across several West African countries. RFI and France 24 have been banned in Niger since August 2023, accused of spreading false information. In late 2023, the Sahel state temporarily suspended BBC programming for similar reasons. In neighboring Burkina Faso, the authorities temporarily banned radio broadcasts of BBC Africa and US-funded VOA in April 2024, citing 'biased' coverage of a Human Rights Watch report that accused the national army of mass executions. The websites of Le Monde, Ouest-France, The Guardian, and Deutsche Welle (DW) were also blocked 'until further notice.'
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Togo 20-year loan overcomes African freeze: IFR
Overcoming challenging conditions for sub-Saharan Africa sovereigns in public bond markets, sub-investment-grade Togo has used credit enhancement from Lloyd's of London insurers and the African Development Bank's concessional lending arm to raise 20-year funding. The West African country's €200m sustainable loan from Deutsche Bank and UK insurer Legal & General, with AfDB as lead arranger, was the first deal under the sustainable financing framework that the sovereign put in place in October. Proceeds will go to eligible green and social projects in areas such as climate adaptation, biodiversity preservation, sustainable agriculture, access to clean energy and pollution control. The facility, which has a five-year grace period and a partial guarantee from the African Development Fund, continues a trend that saw neighbouring Benin close a €507m guaranteed loan in January, also with Deutsche Bank. Benin's 15-year amortising facility has €200m of first-loss protection from the World Bank's International Development Association – IDA's inaugural deal under its new guarantee platform – with the remaining principal and interest covered by African Trade and Investment Development Insurance. Togo's deal also followed a trade finance loan in February from Societe Generale. The World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency provided a €146.4m 95% guarantee on non-payment for three years. Credit enhancement 'Private capital mobilisation through investment-grade guarantees and credit insurance is increasingly relevant [for African and other lower-rated sovereigns],' said Gaetan Cochard, director at Global Sovereign Advisory, financial adviser to Togo. 'If you can crowd in private capital in addition to existing concessional resources, then you are able to multiply funding capability and impact. That's a very big game changer, not only for Togo but for all sovereigns accessing these types of guarantees.' The adviser highlighted the deal's benefits for Togo. 'It's a 20-year maturity and Togo and its regional peers don't have that type of borrowing opportunity from private lenders. So the guarantee really had additionality,' said Clemence Ancelin, associate at GSA. S&P upgraded the sovereign to B+ in April. Besides enhancing the sustainability of Togo's debt and rebalancing its portfolio by increasing the small share of external commercial debt, the loan helps fund its sustainable priorities at a 'particularly attractive' rate, Ancelin said. L&G's share of the loan made the UK insurer the first non-bank lender to work with ADF. It also carried principal and interest insurance from Mosaic Insurance and MS Amlin, which they provided through their Lloyd's syndicates. 'As institutional investors have been publicly involved in debt-for-nature swaps and other long-term EM credit-enhanced transactions, it made sense to try and create a structure for Togo that could be interesting for [them],' said Simon Bessant, global head of insurance and business development at Texel Group. Texel arranged the deal's non-payment insurance, providing 'a creative way of allowing L&G to invest in an asset which had to have an investment-grade exposure and maintain consistent cashflow', Bessant said. 'This shows how insurers and asset managers can work together to close the infrastructure financing gap,' said Nick Oxley, lead underwriter for credit and political risk at MS Amlin. 'We believe these transactions and innovative financing methods are combatting the historic risk-return misperception [over EM]; and demonstrating the compelling investment opportunity for commercial institutional investors to contribute to global sustainable development with investment-grade credit risk,' said Jake Harper, senior investment manager, asset management at L&G. The loan was made on behalf of L&G's institutional retirement business, a spokeswoman said. It does not form part of its new nature and social outcomes strategy. The insurer has now committed almost US$500m to sovereign use-of-proceeds loans in Africa, including social infrastructure and renewable energy deals in Ivory Coast and Senegal, respectively, and a separate deal under the nature strategy. Deutsche was not involved in those transactions. The bank would not comment on whether it had also insured its exposure to Togo. ADF also brought in what AfDB chief financial officer Hassatou N'Sele described as 'highly rated credit insurance partners' to cover its guarantee. More to come More African sovereigns could follow Togo and Benin's lead. 'It's a superb solution and should be part of the strategy of all sovereigns who aim to optimise access to commercial funding in current markets or want to have an efficient debt management,' said Cochard. 'The long-dated and sustainably priced structure that was achieved from this transaction would surely be attractive to other EM issuers looking for a bond-like product,' added Bessant. Lenders have the twin comfort of ADF monitoring the deal and its use of proceeds being governed by a sustainable financing framework, he said. 'You have a lot of additional reporting that is clearly supportive of a transparent borrowing, infrastructure and sustainable development goal that has been achieved by [the] transaction. It is not just budgetary lending with opaque use of proceeds and refinancing risk at maturity.' Source:
Reuters
4 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Togo suspends RFI and France 24 for three months, communications authority says
LOME, June 16 (Reuters) - Togo has suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, its communications authority said on Monday, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour. The suspension comes as tensions are rising between the West African country's leader Faure Gnassingbe and the opposition. Gnassingbe received in May a powerful new role of President of the Council of Ministers which has no fixed term limit. Two opposition parties - the Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change - called this move a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. RFI and France 24 have been covering opposition protests against the new constitution that created Gnassingbe's new role. "A number of recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, tendentious and even factually incorrect statements, damaging the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's communications authority said in a statement. In a joint statement, both outlets reaffirmed their commitment to journalistic principles and said that their management was willing to clear up any misunderstanding with the authority.
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Togo Suspends French State-Owned Broadcasters RFI and France 24 for 3 Months Over Reporting
Togo has suspended broadcasts by two French state-owned networks for three months for an alleged lack of impartiality in their reporting, according to a statement from the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication on Monday. The move to censor foreign media outlets comes as President Faure Gnassingbé faces increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. Critics have called the changes a constitutional coup. Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24 are the networks being suspended. 'This measure follows repeated failings already reported and formally recalled in matters of impartiality, rigor, and fact-checking. Several recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, biased, and even contrary to established facts, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image,' read the statement. 'Freedom of the press cannot be synonymous with disinformation or interference,' it said. Protests are scheduled for next week following a crackdown on protests earlier this month. Demonstrations are rare in Togo, as they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lomé's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
