The ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries and the European Union must reach a new cooperation agreement before the end of this year. The talks are dense, said DiploMag, the magazine published by the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Negotiations for a new ACP-EU partnership were launched in September 2018 in New York. The first rounds of negotiations focused mainly on the “common foundation”, which brings together the values and principles around which the EU and the ACP countries come together, and indicates the priority strategic areas in which the two parties intend to work together. The future agreement should include specific and action-oriented regional partnerships, focusing on the needs of each region. Consultations on regional partnerships were completed in the spring of 2019. The future ACP-EU partnership will serve to consolidate the close political ties between the EU and the ACP countries on the international scene. Together, the ACP countries and the EU represent more than 1.5 billion people and more than half of the seats in the United Nations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey is the chief negotiator on behalf of the ACP. Further information : DiploMag N°21.pdf
Launch of the “Decade of African Roots and Diasporas”
Within the framework of the 33rd Summit of the African Union, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, Pr Robert DUSSEY, representing HE Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic, presented the February 10, a communication on behalf of Togo on the launching of the “Decade of African Roots and Diasporas”. This Togolese initiative, “Lomé Framework”, aims to set up a platform for the preparation and promotion of projects, initiatives and events relating to African roots and diasporas and aims mainly to: propose a periodic program presenting events by country and flagship operations; offer an international showcase for projects carried out by different countries; ensure the coordination and consistency of the actions proposed; mobilize participants for events offered by different countries. Minister Robert DUSSEY underlined, at the Summit of Heads of State and Government, the inclusive nature of the Lomé Framework aimed at grouping and federating initiatives with a view to strengthening the role and contributions of people of African roots and diasporas to the economic development of the continent. After the communication of Minister Robert DUSSEY at the Summit of the African Union, a large majority of countries adhered to the Togolese initiative and the Presidency of the African Union wished to reaffirm the importance of the question of roots and diasporas African. A consensus emerged on the establishment of a High Level Committee to prepare the content and the conditions for the implementation of this pan-African platform. A call for project proposals open to all African countries is planned for the identification, study and selection of projects that can be included in the continental agenda of the Decade of African Roots and Diasporas. Through this innovative framework for cooperation between African countries, the aim is to better involve Africans from outside and to strengthen the links between Afro-descendants, communities with African roots, diasporas and their continent, “mother earth. “, Africa. The objective is to make African diasporas strategic actors in the development of Africa. As such, Togo is preparing the first “African Diaspora Economic Forum”, making Lomé the capital of African roots and diasporas. Done at Addis Ababa on February 10, 2020
TOGO AT THE AFRICAN WOMEN’S FORUM
The Chargé d’affaires of Togo in South Africa, Mr. Kokoutse Gouna traveled this Wednesday, November 6, to “Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Center” in Johannesburg where the African Women in Dialogue (AFWID) forum is taking place. Objective, meet the women who represent Togo at this great continental meeting to support and encourage them. In turn, part of the Togolese delegation went to the Embassy of Togo in Pretoria on Thursday November 7 to say thank you to the Togolese diplomat. During his visit, the Chargé d’affaires welcomed Togo’s strong participation in this forum and welcomed the commitment of the Togolese woman who, according to him, has finally found its way. “It is a great joy to see our women in South Africa. It is not every day that we receive a delegation of women. So it’s already a very nice surprise for us and above all we are happy to see that the woman has finally found her way. I also believe it is an honor to be here and support them. I wish them all the happiness so that they always carry Togo higher, “said Mr. Kokoutse Gouna. For Mr. Gouna, women should no longer be reduced to household activities. “Our sisters must be inspired by this event so that the woman can go even further. Women have their place in society. And for the development of our country, it must contribute to it, ”he insists. The diplomat also invited women to contribute, to calm the climate during this electoral period in Togo. He remembers that in the days when the men left scarcely, the women went on sex strike and calm returned. “Women have the ability to invite men to the table for discussion, dialogue and soothing the climate. “, He said. In Pretoria, Thursday, November 7, the women’s delegation for its part, said it was delighted with the consideration of the diplomat vis-à-vis his compatriots. “We are very touched by your gesture. You have honored us before an entire continent. You have shown us that you are very sensitive to the feminine cause and that marked us very much, ”says AFWID national coordinator, Ms. Toffa Kékéli, entrepreneur. It should be emphasized, the diplomat took the opportunity to exchange with these women on his mission and activities as a representative of Togo in South Africa. He also mentioned the creation of the Embassy which dates back 4 years. Reflections have also revolved around possible cultural projects that the Embassy of Togo in South Africa could organize in order to give more visibility to Togolese products in the country of Madiba. As a reminder, 15 Togolese women participate in the Forum African Women in Dialogue which takes place from 4 to 8 November in Johannesrbourg. Organized by the Zanele Mbeki Development Trust, AFWID aims to be an inclusive dialogue platform intended to bring together African women from all walks of life under the same roof so that they can debate issues of continental importance and female leadership. Hélène Doubidji, special envoy from Togotopnews to Johannersburg
THE TOGOLESE DIASPORA HAS A HIGH COUNCIL
Prime Minister Komi Selom Klassou presided on Friday the inauguration ceremony of the 77 members of the Togolese High Council for Foreign Affairs (HCTE) It is obvious that no nation can build itself and ensure its fulfillment if it does not associate all its daughters and sons with the management of the common thing. This is why the Togolese government, in its various strategic plans, has always favored the consideration of the concerns of the Diaspora as one of its priorities, “he said. For his part, Foreign Minister Robert Dussey emphasized that the ceremony was a symbol of renewed trust between the motherland and its sons, who, for various reasons, live abroad. A reaffirmation of the close bond between our country and its Diaspora, an opportunity that reiterates our feeling of belonging to the same national community, hammered the head of diplomacy who piloted the installation of the HCTE. This apolitical High Council aims to unite the Diaspora around national development ambitions. Its elected members represent about 1.5 million Togolese living in 53 countries, in Africa, Europe, North America and elsewhere in the world. The HCTE will be a means to directly involve the Diaspora in the development of Togo, but also to be a link between various associations often disorganized and therefore not audible.
DIPLOMAG N ° 20 IN THE KIOSKS
DiploMag, the magazine of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has just been published. A large place is dedicated to the Diaspora Forum which will take place at the end of November in Lomé; a first. Nearly one and a half million Togolese live abroad. For the authorities, the Diaspora must become a real partner for development. The magazine also devotes a file to the recent election of delegates to the High Council of Togolese Abroad (HCTE).
NIGHT OF DIASPORA’S SUCCESS : WELL-DESERVED REWARD
Five Togolese were rewarded Friday evening for the ”Success Stories Diaspora” trophies. Their journey is very different, but rich in encounters, opportunities and willingness. The winners of the 2019 edition are Kossikouma Victor Agbegnenou is the President of the KA Technologies Group, Simon Worou is Mayor of the municipality of Sainte Juliette (Aveyron, France), Pierre Koffi Alanda is an expert in organic farming, Jean-Claude Homawoo is a venture capital expert André Danonu Lignanmatey Batako is a professor and principal investigator at the University of Liverpool.
A VISIT FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC ISSUES
After an official dinner last night, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa began Friday, December 6, 2019, the economic and diplomatic aspect of his visit to Togo. He went to the port of Lome and was briefed on the operation of this platform, one of the most successful in Africa. Lome is the gateway to landlocked countries like Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. He then went to the training center for peacekeeping operations. Every year, hundreds of peacekeepers are trained before their deployment on different theaters of operation: Mali, Sudan, Haiti … According to the program communicated by the South African presidency, Cyril Ramaphosa and Faure Gnassingbé will hold talks during the day in the presidency. On this occasion, a framework agreement should be signed on agricultural cooperation, port management, mining and energy. The South African economic presence is already a reality in Togo. Ecobank has as reference shareholder Nedbank. ‘The working visits of President Ramaphosa to the sister republics (of Guinea, Ghana and Togo, Ed.) Offer South Africa the opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation with the three partner States and to promote intensification of trade and investment, “said an advisor to the South African head of state. He added that this tour is also an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest ‘related to the quest for a peaceful and prosperous continent in Africa, in line with the aspirations of the transformative agenda of the African Union’. The South African delegation includes several ministers: International Relations & Cooperation, Agriculture, Military Veterans, State Security and Trade and Indistria (Deputy Minister).
IN SEEK OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRIVATE INVESTMENT
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, completed a 24-hour visit to Togo. He said he was very happy to have made this trip. In a press conference with his counterpart Faure Gnassingbé, he praised the good bilateral relations and wants to strengthen them in the sectors of trade, transport, security, agriculture and mining. A framework agreement has been signed. The two men also spoke about the national development plan; strategy that Togo intends to implement to ensure its emergence. It relies on private investment. And South African companies are obviously welcome. ‘We want domestic and foreign investment, but especially foreign investment from Africa. South Africans are important investors and I hope that Togo is also for them an investment land, “said Faure Gnassingbé. He announced the upcoming holding of an economic forum in Johannesburg.