For several years, the Sahelo-Saharan zone has been confronted with multiple jihadist threats which are gradually spreading towards the countries of the Gulf of Guinea. After suffering terrorist attacks three times in a row, Togo is leading, with great determination at the highest level of the State, efforts to fight and prevent terrorism. From the state of security emergency decreed in the Savanes Region, through the military operation “Koundalgou”, the military programming law 2021-2025, the establishment of the risk analysis unit, the Emergency Plan for the resilience of the Savannah Region…, these initiatives aim to overcome this scourge, but also to weaken it significantly, while minimizing its perverse and devastating effects on the country’s development.
Togo, which has experienced successive terrorist attacks in recent times, is working hard to strengthen and readjust its strategy to fight once morest this scourge. A blind violence that hit the country three times in a row. The first, committed on November 9, 2021, was valiantly repelled by the defense forces, in Sanloaga, in the Kpendjal prefecture in the north of the country. The second attack, which took place on May 10, 2022, still in the North, with 08 soldiers killed and 13 wounded, was followed by a third, on the night of June 15 to 16, 2022. The latter, committed once morest the populations of the villages of Gnoaga and Gouloungoussi, in the Savannah Region, caused civilian casualties and sowed psychosis among the population. The Head of State, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who went on Thursday, July 21, to the scene to meet the populations and to express the compassion of the whole Nation to the families of the victims, then recalled the real nature of terrorism: “a war like no other, there is no front. Sometimes the enemies are around us, sometimes among us and others from outside. Sometimes once more, it’s a form of betrayal, information that is dropped here and there he said, before emphasizing the government’s determination to fight, through a strategy of retaliation. A strategy that should go beyond the government measures already taken, through the collaboration of the populations with the defense and security forces. In this sense, the Head of State calls on the population to be responsible and vigilant, so that the measures implemented can produce results.
The state of emergency declared in the Savannahs, the region most at risk
Indeed, Togo, which takes the jihadist threat very seriously, has taken action, not only legal, but social and educational. In the Savannah region, the northernmost part of the country and the most exposed to security threats, emergency measures were quickly taken following the jihadist attacks. It is mainly regarding the state of security emergency of 03 months decreed in this region, where the reinforcement of the army and the police force is also announced.
In addition, the operationalization of the activity plans of the Interministerial Committee for the Prevention and Fight once morest Violent Extremism was effective through security measures taken to protect the population. On other aspects, in accordance with the military programming law, Togo has undertaken, since 2021, the strengthening of military personnel to provide the means necessary for the defense of its national integrity, the security of its population and the free exercise of its sovereignty.
The budget which returned in 2022 to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, reserved 43.4 billion FCFA for the strategic endowment of the army, 21.9 billion for the preparation and employment of forces, 38.5 billion are devoted to logistics equipment and joint support. The measures taken by the Togolese authorities also go through the reinforcement of the workforce. The objective is to contribute to the establishment of a new Special Forces Unit and a Light Anti-Terrorist Intervention Group, with modern and sophisticated equipment.
“Kundalgou” operations
Togo advocates multilateral cooperation for regional and interregional stability in the face of terrorists. Thus, it is one of the signatory countries of the “Koundalgou” Initiative, in September 2017 in Accra. This initiative, signed by Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo, consists of surprise seasonal military operations to destroy terrorist camps and all groups of armed and ill-intentioned people. A thousand Togolese soldiers took part in the fourth phase of the operations which took place from November 21 to 27, 2021. Thanks to it, 300 terrorists (suspects) were arrested, as well as a large seizure of stocks weapons and ammunition carried out.
Moreover, faced with the jihadist threat and security challenges, Togo has set up a risk analysis unit inaugurated on Tuesday July 5, 2022 in Lomé. Through this center, Togo will receive information on terrorist threats from other countries, which will be analyzed by experts on site, in order to anticipate in decision-making aimed at stopping or minimizing the danger. These data make it possible to know the nature of the threats, which will help experts in Togo to propose better responses, according to official sources.
Winning the fight for human and social development
On the other hand, to overcome terrorists who sow death and desolation, Togo calls on the Nations to pursue reforms that promote better coordination and coherence in programs, projects and international instruments dedicated to the fight once morest terrorism. international. For Togo, this fight must also work to win the fight for human and social development. Thus, by offering more economic inclusion to the populations, the States will give them reasons to take part in the regular political processes and to participate, as citizens, in the projects of national construction. And this is what justifies the implementation of an emergency plan for the Savannah region. With a financial envelope of 16 billion CFA francs, this plan is intended to strengthen the resilience of beneficiary populations. The objective being to eradicate poverty, guarantee well-being, as well as infallible social protection, through activities affecting the sectors of water, electricity, health, education, agriculture and connectivity infrastructure.
Bernardin ADJOSSE
