Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
Togo has maintained cordial ties with France since its independence in 1960. It is now also opening up to a Russia keen to expand its influence from the Sahel into the Gulf of Guinea.
So, when France sent its foreign minister to Togo in April — the first such visit in 24 years — one of the main aims was to counter Russia’s rapprochement with the west African coastal country.
France’s position is not helped by the fact that Togo continues to cultivate good relations with regional neighbours Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
All are former French colonies now ruled by military juntas who have severed ties with Paris and forged closer links with Russia instead.
