Lomé recently initiated a pivotal regional dialogue on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, dedicated to advancing the prevention agenda across the Gulf of Guinea. This critical gathering brought together governmental representatives, regional institutions, United Nations agencies, technical and financial partners, and community stakeholders actively involved in peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts.
During the opening remarks, Togolese Security Minister Calixte Madjoulba delivered a powerful message. He stressed that in the face of evolving threats impacting West Africa, only a unified, enduring, and prevention-focused strategy can truly safeguard the stability of the sub-region.
the gulf of Guinea faces escalating pressures: terrorism, crime, and climate crisis
In his address, Minister Madjoulba presented an unequivocal assessment: the Gulf of Guinea is grappling with an accumulation of increasingly intricate security and socio-economic challenges.
Violent extremism, terrorism, transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking, the proliferation of small arms, escalating communal tensions, and the profound impacts of climate change are progressively eroding the social and economic equilibrium of the region.
Compounding these threats are the direct repercussions of the Sahelian crisis, particularly the widespread displacement of populations and the mounting pressure placed on host communities and local resources.
“No single state can provide a fully effective response on its own,” Minister Madjoulba emphasized, highlighting that the current challenges far transcend national borders.
Togo champions a holistic 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, vigorously pursued under the leadership of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.
The national strategy is built upon a straightforward principle: simultaneously bolstering security, development, and social cohesion to address the deep-seated causes of crises.
Reducing inequalities, enhancing governance, fostering social inclusion, creating employment opportunities for youth, and strengthening community resilience are all considered vital levers for the sustained prevention of conflicts.
“protect, gather, transform”: the pillars of togolese public action
Central to this overarching strategy is the three-pronged approach: “Protect, Gather, Transform,” which the Minister presented as the guiding compass for governmental action.
Protect signifies ensuring the safety of populations and upholding peace.
Gather involves fostering dialogue, strengthening trust between citizens and institutions, and consolidating social cohesion.
Transform means taking lasting action on vulnerability factors by expanding economic opportunities, narrowing disparities, and building more resilient communities.
Calixte Madjoulba asserted that this model perfectly aligns with the ambitious goals of the regional dialogue hosted in Lomé.
translating commitments into tangible results
The chosen theme for this conference, “From Commitment to Impact,” reflects the participants’ shared aspiration to convert political ambitions into concrete, actionable outcomes.
The Minister urged states and their partners to move beyond mere declarations and to deliver visible results that genuinely benefit the populations.
“Our populations expect effective responses tailored to their daily realities,” he underscored.
According to him, citizens anticipate mechanisms capable of anticipating crises before they erupt, preventing conflicts before they become entrenched, and durably reinforcing the resilience of their territories.
the united nations stands with gulf of Guinea nations
The Togolese official also commended the dedicated involvement 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 the participants, this initiative represents a significant opportunity to fortify regional cooperation, exchange best practices, and mobilize essential resources to confront emerging challenges.
towards a regional roadmap for peace and resilience
Following two days of intensive discussions, the stakeholders convened in Lomé are expected to outline an ambitious regional roadmap. This roadmap aims to bolster prevention mechanisms, solidify cross-border cooperation, secure sustainable financing, and enhance the monitoring of committed actions.
Through this dialogue, Togo emphatically reiterates its conviction that prevention stands as one of the most strategic investments today to guarantee peace, security, and sustainable development throughout the Gulf of Guinea.
In a region confronting multifaceted challenges, the message from Lomé is unequivocal: anticipating crises is far more cost-effective than managing them, and prevention remains the paramount guarantee of a stable and prosperous future for its people.