H.E.Ms. Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe, the Prime Minister of Togo officially opened the 1st Lomé Forum on Peace and Security. It was in the presence of the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Léonardo Santos Simão. The work addresses political transitions and democratic governance in Africa. The meeting was initiated by Togo and the African Political Alliance (APA). It records the participation of representatives of African and non-African governments, high-level experts, civil society organizations, academics, media, international organizations, business and professional organizations. The work takes place under the general theme: “How to strengthen political transitions towards democratic governance in Africa”. According to the head of government of Togo, the Lomé Forum on Peace and Security or Lome Peace and Security Forum (LPSF) is being held at a time when humanity is facing immense challenges in the governance of peace and security. security depriving countries of peaceful prospects for harmonious development. Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé lists the political uncertainties, security threats as well as the wind of economic and financial crises. “This forum is intended to be an opportunity for informed exchanges and shared reflections on the necessary endogenous appropriation of our collective approach to democratic consolidation. It is a space conducive to the emergence of proposals of bold relevance and realism,” declared Ms. Tomegah-Dogbé. Among the personalities present, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Léonardo Santos Simão, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, the foreign ministers of Chad, Central Africa, Burkina Faso and Mali. Prof Robert Dussey, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined the commitment of Togolese diplomacy to work for a peaceful Africa less vulnerable to shocks. All this in accordance with the guidelines of the Togolese head of state, Faure Gnassingbé. “In this sense, Togo launched with other countries last May in Lomé the African Political Alliance (APA) which is a framework for consultation, political dialogue and common actions based on historical ties of brotherhood and principles of sovereign equality of States, independence, interdependence and unity of actions,” said Prof Dussey. The head of Togolese diplomacy specified that the Lomé Forum on Peace and Security serves as a permanent framework for reflection with a view to formulating realistic recommendations to decision-makers involved in the management of the continent’s political and security crises. Likewise, it will provide a space to undertake a process of dialogue and mediation. For this first edition of Lomé Peace and Security Forum, 5 panels will be organized. Participants will discuss the factors of fragility of state institutions in Africa; political and security challenges that hinder the transition to democratic governance; the establishment of strong institutions and the rule of law in Africa; or the role of sub-regional and international organizations in supporting transitions. Without forgetting the mobilization of African innovation and agility. At the end of this 1st edition of the Lomé Forum on Peace and Security, relevant proposals and recommendations are expected by the participants.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad met, on October 23, 2023, the brilliant young africans rigorously selected to take part in the first edition of the “Lome Peace and Security Forum”. The head of Togolese diplomacy had very rich exchanges of around 02 hours with the young people of the LPSF, exchanges during which Prof. Dussey expressed his satisfaction and pride for their rich contributions made during the various panels of the forum. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Dr. Abdisaid Muse Ali also took part in the meeting.

The 1st edition of the Lomé Peace and Security Forum will be held on 21 and 22 October. This event is an initiative of the Head of State, Faure Gnassingbé, and reinforces Togo’s commitment to working with the other States of the continent, regional integration organisations, the African Union, the United Nations and all other partners to preserve continental peace and stability. The first edition of the Lomé Peace and Security Forum is organised around the theme « How to strengthen transitions towards democratic governance in Africa ». The event, which comes a month after the launch of the African Political Alliance (APA) by the government and the holding of its first ministerial conference on 03 May in Lomé, is part of a series of African initiatives designed to respond to the continent’s need to work harder to consolidate peace and build collective security in an environment marked by the emergence of new areas of tension and the complexity of the security challenges posed by the growing threat of terrorism and transnational organised crime. Representatives of African and non-African governments, high-level experts, civil society organisations, academics, the media, international organisations, the business community and professional organisations are expected to attend. « The aim of the Lomé Peace and Security Forum is to develop a new way of understanding and interpreting political transitions, taking into account the contexts and dynamics of their emergence, as well as the crucial issues and challenges involved in strengthening democratic governance in Africa », said the Togolese government in a press release. Over the course of two days, participants will discuss, among other things, the factors that make institutions in Africa fragile, the challenges of building solid institutions, building and strengthening the rule of law, the role of regional and international organisations in supporting political transitions, the political challenges of consolidating democratic governance in transition periods and the security challenges facing political transitions underway on the continent. At the end, a series of relevant proposals and recommendations will be made by the participants, focusing on consolidating peace, strengthening the African security system and democratic governance, building strong institutions and the rule of law, and gaining a better understanding of the role of multilateral organisations in monitoring transitions.    TOGO EN LIVE

The Togolese capital is hosting the first edition of the Lomé Peace and Security Forum on 21 and 22 October. Initiated by Togo, the event comes a month after the launch of the African Political Alliance (APA), one of the main pillars of which is African leadership on the continent’s problems and on issues relating to peace and security. The forum will bring together representatives of African and non-African governments, experts, civil society, academia, the media, international organisations, the business community and professional organisations. Strengthening transitions to democratic governance in Africa will be the theme of the conference. Other topics of discussion include the fragility of institutions in Africa, the role of regional and international organisations in supporting political transitions, and the challenges of consolidating democratic governance during periods of transition on the continent. Togo’s objective is to « develop a new prism for understanding and reading political transitions, taking into account the contexts and dynamics of their emergence, as well as the crucial issues and challenges relating to the strengthening of democratic governance in Africa », explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (IMPARTIAL ACTU)