Togo: Opposition concerned by alleged presence of Russian and Turkish soldiers in the North

The Togolese opposition expressed its concerns about the alleged presence of "foreign forces" in the north of the country, specifically mentioning Russian mercenaries from the paramilitary group Africa Corps and Turkish forces from the private military company Sadat, in a statement sent to AFP on Tuesday.

Since the end of 2021, the far north of this country has been plagued by incursions from jihadist groups. They have been undermining the neighboring Sahel for a decade and are gradually spreading to coastal countries, such as Togo.

"The international press reveals (...) in particular the presence on the ground of foreign forces. This is the case with Turkish forces, partly from the private military company Sadat of the same country, and special forces of the Africa Corps," three groups of opposition political parties and civil society organizations stated in a joint press release.

"In Lomé, Ankara and Moscow, there is total silence on personnel and missions, however, the international press mentions approximately 350 Russian personnel," the statement emphasizes.

These political parties and civil society organizations say they are "concerned about the opacity surrounding these strategic decisions and the abuses that may result from them," as well as the "risks of abuses" against local populations, citing precedents in other theaters of operation in Africa.

They are calling for "the immediate opening of a public debate on the presence of any foreign military or paramilitary force in Togo" and demand "that no foreign force be engaged in operations of surveillance, intimidation, arrest or repression of the population".

No official source has confirmed the alleged presence of these foreign forces in the north of the country.

However, in 2021, Lomé signed a framework agreement for military cooperation with Turkey.

Togo also signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia in 2025, allowing Moscow to bring in instructors, ships and military aircraft.

In recent years, this country has become fertile ground for Moscow's expansion, which aims to make it its anchor point in the Gulf of Guinea after the Sahel, where its soldiers of the Africa Corps are deployed, directly under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Faced with incursions by jihadist groups, Togo established a state of security emergency in the Savanes region (north) in June 2022, which was extended for 12 months in February.

Approximately 8,000 Togolese soldiers are deployed there as part of Operation "Koundjoaré", launched in 2018.

AFP, specifically mentioning Russian mercenaries from the paramilitary group Africa Corps and Turkish forces from the private military company Sadat, in a statement sent to AFP on Tuesday.

Since the end of 2021, the far north of this country has been plagued by incursions from jihadist groups. They have been undermining the neighboring Sahel for a decade and are gradually spreading to coastal countries, such as Togo.

"The international press reveals (...) in particular the presence on the ground of foreign forces. This is the case with Turkish forces, partly from the private military company Sadat of the same country, and special forces of the Africa Corps," three groups of opposition political parties and civil society organizations stated in a joint press release.

"In Lomé, Ankara and Moscow, there is total silence on personnel and missions, however, the international press mentions approximately 350 Russian personnel," the statement emphasizes.

These political parties and civil society organizations say they are "concerned about the opacity surrounding these strategic decisions and the abuses that may result from them," as well as the "risks of abuses" against local populations, citing precedents in other theaters of operation in Africa.

They are calling for "the immediate opening of a public debate on the presence of any foreign military or paramilitary force in Togo" and demand "that no foreign force be engaged in operations of surveillance, intimidation, arrest or repression of the population".

No official source has confirmed the alleged presence of these foreign forces in the north of the country.

However, in 2021, Lomé signed a framework agreement for military cooperation with Turkey.

Togo also signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia in 2025, allowing Moscow to bring in instructors, ships and military aircraft.

In recent years, this country has become fertile ground for Moscow's expansion, which aims to make it its anchor point in the Gulf of Guinea after the Sahel, where its soldiers of the Africa Corps are deployed, directly under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Faced with incursions by jihadist groups, Togo established a state of security emergency in the Savanes region (north) in June 2022, which was extended for 12 months in February.

Approximately 8,000 Togolese soldiers are deployed there as part of Operation "Koundjoaré", launched in 2018.

AFP