Neither Russia nor France: How Togo Is Mastering Diplomatic Balancing in West Africa
As geopolitical realignments reshape West Africa, countries across the region are being pushed, often forcefully, toward choosing sides. Some are doubling down on long-standing partnerships with France, while others are pivoting decisively toward Russia. Yet one nation, under a calculated and deliberate strategy, is refusing to be boxed in.
That country is Togo.
Under President of the Council of Ministers Faure Gnassingbé, Togo has emerged as one of West Africa’s most adept diplomatic tightrope walkers—maintaining relationships with rival global powers, engaging opposing regional blocs, and leveraging its strategic importance to maximize influence at home and abroad.
A Coup Attempt and Quiet Diplomacy
The subtlety of Togo’s approach was once again on display following the failed military coup in neighbouring Benin on 7 December. As the plot collapsed, its alleged leader, Lt Col Pascal Tigri, reportedly slipped across the border into Togo before continuing on to what appeared to be safe haven in Ouagadougou or Niamey.
Lomé has neither confirmed nor denied any role in facilitating Tigri’s escape. That silence is emblematic of a government skilled in maintaining ambiguity, especially when navigating sensitive regional crises involving fellow members of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).
While Togo has been careful not to openly antagonize Benin’s President Patrice Talon, relations between the two countries remain guarded. At the same time, Gnassingbé has made little effort to hide his cordial ties with the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, all of which formally exited Ecowas earlier this year.
Courting Paris—Then Moscow
Togo’s diplomatic dexterity is most evident in its management of global powers. On 30 October, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Gnassingbé at the Élysée Palace in what was billed as a meeting to reinforce historic bilateral ties. France has long regarded Togo as one of its most reliable allies in the region. Yet less than three weeks later, Gnassingbé was in Moscow, receiving a notably warm welcome from President Vladimir Putin. The visit culminated in the signing of a defence cooperation agreement, granting Russian naval vessels access to Lomé Port, one of the most modern deepwater ports along Africa’s Atlantic coast and a crucial logistical gateway to the landlocked Sahel.
The agreement includes intelligence cooperation and joint military exercises, though Togolese authorities insist there are no plans to host Russia’s Africa Corps, the Kremlin-backed successor to the Wagner Group. Beyond defence, the two countries announced expanded economic cooperation and the reopening of their embassies, closed since the 1990s.
While the Paris visit was understated, the Moscow trip was highly visible, and not lost on France.
Diversification, Not Defection
Togo insists its engagement with Russia does not signal a break with Western partners. Instead, Lomé frames its strategy as relationship diversification, a rationale increasingly echoed across West Africa.
This broader shift is evident elsewhere: Togo and Gabon joined the Commonwealth three years ago while retaining their Francophonie membership. Meanwhile, Ghana, a long-standing Commonwealth country, joined the International Organisation of Francophonie last year.
For many African governments, the idea that international partnerships must be mutually exclusive is outdated. They reject the framing of a new Cold War or a binary choice between former colonial powers.
A Regional Hub with Strategic Value
Togo’s diplomatic confidence is underpinned by its economic and logistical relevance.
Lomé is a major freight, aviation, and financial hub. Its port accommodates the world’s largest container ships, redistributing cargo to smaller West African ports, while its airport connects the region through extensive short-haul routes. The city also hosts regional banks and financial institutions, reinforcing its role as a commercial crossroads.
Although rural poverty remains a challenge, these assets have helped diversify Togo’s economy and strengthen its bargaining power.
Crucially, Togo sits along the Lagos–Abidjan transport corridor, one of Ecowas’s most important infrastructure projects, making continued membership in the bloc essential. At the same time, Lomé has signaled openness to closer ties with the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES), with Foreign Minister Professor Robert Dussey even floating the possibility of Togo joining the group.
Domestic Politics and International Leverage
Gnassingbé’s international maneuvering also intersects with domestic political realities.
In 2024, constitutional changes transformed Togo’s political structure. Executive power shifted from the presidency, subject to term limits, to a new role, President of the Council of Ministers, which carries no term limit. Gnassingbé assumed this position after transferring the ceremonial presidency to a loyal ally.
The move sparked widespread controversy. Protests were swiftly suppressed, with arrests, intimidation of journalists, and threats against prominent critics, including rapper Aamron and former defence minister Marguerite Gnakadè.
European concern followed. In September, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the release of political prisoners, including Abdoul Aziz Goma, detained since 2018. Togo’s government dismissed the resolution, insisting its judiciary operates independently.
By deepening ties beyond Europe, Gnassingbé has sent a clear message to Western critics: Togo has alternatives.
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A Fragile Balance
Despite the government’s firm stance, history suggests caution. Togo has experienced sudden waves of unrest before, and tensions beneath the surface persist.
In a recent state-of-the-nation address, Gnassingbé signaled a possible softening, instructing the justice minister to consider prisoner releases, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to ease mounting pressure.
The gesture underscores a central reality: while Togo’s leader has mastered international diplomacy, foreign partnerships alone cannot permanently neutralize domestic discontent.
As West Africa navigates a period of profound geopolitical change, Togo stands as a case study in strategic non-alignment, neither firmly in France’s camp nor fully in Russia’s orbit, but carefully positioned between both. How long that balance can be sustained remains an open question.
