Lomé, Togo, has been the focal point of a significant regional dialogue since Tuesday, June 3, 2026, dedicated to bolstering the prevention agenda across the Gulf of Guinea. This pivotal gathering has brought together high-level government representatives, leading regional institutions, various United Nations agencies, crucial technical and financial partners, and dedicated community stakeholders all committed to peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts.
During the opening remarks, Calixte Madjoulba, the Minister of Security, delivered a powerful message. He articulated that in the face of evolving threats impacting West Africa, only a synchronized, sustainable, and prevention-oriented approach can guarantee enduring stability throughout the sub-region.
Gulf of Guinea under pressure: terrorism, crime, and climate crisis
In his address, the Minister presented an unambiguous assessment: the Gulf of Guinea is grappling with an escalating array of complex security and socio-economic challenges.
These challenges include violent extremism, rampant terrorism, transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking, the proliferation of small arms, escalating communal tensions, and the profound impacts of climate change, all of which are progressively eroding the social and economic stability of the region.
Compounding these threats are the direct repercussions of the Sahelian crisis, notably mass population displacements and the increasing strain placed on host communities and local resources.
“No single state can provide a fully effective response on its own,” Minister Madjoulba asserted, underscoring that current challenges transcend national borders.
Togo champions a comprehensive security vision
For the Minister, combating insecurity cannot be confined solely to military or police interventions.
“Sustainable security cannot be achieved through security responses alone,” he declared to the assembled participants.
This conviction forms a cornerstone of Togo’s public policy, driven by the leadership of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.
The national strategy is founded on a straightforward principle: simultaneously reinforcing security, fostering development, and strengthening social cohesion to address the fundamental causes of crises.
Key levers identified for long-term conflict prevention include reducing inequalities, enhancing governance, promoting social inclusion, creating employment opportunities for youth, and building community resilience.
“Protect, gather, transform”: the triptych of Togolese public action
Central to this overarching strategy is the “Protect, Gather, Transform” triptych, which the Minister presented as the guiding compass for governmental action.
Protect means ensuring the safety and security of populations and preserving peace.
Gather involves fostering dialogue, strengthening trust between citizens and institutions, and consolidating social cohesion.
Transform implies acting sustainably on vulnerability factors by expanding economic opportunities, narrowing disparities, and building more resilient communities.
Calixte Madjoulba emphasized that this model perfectly aligns with the ambitious goals of the regional dialogue hosted in Lomé.
Moving from commitments to tangible results
The chosen theme for this gathering, “From Commitment to Impact,” clearly reflects the participants’ collective aspiration to translate policy ambitions into concrete, actionable results.
The Minister urged states and their partners to move beyond mere declarations and instead produce visible outcomes that directly benefit the populations.
“Our populations expect effective and tailored responses to their daily realities,” he stressed.
He further explained that citizens anticipate mechanisms capable of anticipating crises before they erupt, preventing conflicts before they become entrenched, and sustainably bolstering the resilience of territories.
The United Nations stands with Gulf of Guinea nations
The Togolese official also commended the steadfast commitment of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Through the Joint Prevention Facility 2026-2029 for the Gulf of Guinea, these partners are actively supporting a vision centered on prevention, community resilience, and inclusive economic development.
For participants, this initiative represents a crucial opportunity to enhance regional cooperation, share best practices, and mobilize the necessary resources to confront emerging challenges.
Towards a regional roadmap for peace and resilience
By the conclusion of the two-day discussions, the stakeholders convened in Lomé are expected to define an ambitious regional roadmap. This roadmap aims to reinforce prevention mechanisms, solidify cross-border cooperation, secure sustainable funding, and improve the monitoring of committed actions.
Through this dialogue, Togo reiterates its firm belief that prevention today stands as one of the most strategic investments for guaranteeing peace, security, and sustainable development throughout the Gulf of Guinea.
In a region confronting multifaceted challenges, the message emanating from Lomé is unequivocal: anticipating crises is more cost-effective than managing them, and prevention remains the paramount guarantee for a stable and prosperous future for its people.
