The 113th ASC Seminar will feature a talk by Mr. MOUVY Dodzivi Eva Kekeli, Chargé d'Affaires, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Togo on "Togo, Mediator and Gateway of West Africa"
The seminar will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation via Zoom as well. Please be sure to register in advance.
Title: "Togo, Mediator and Gateway of West Africa"
Abstract: This presentation provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of Togo, exploring how this narrow, 600-kilometer-long West African nation leverages its strategic geographical positioning and historical neutrality to act as both a highly efficient economic gateway and a pivotal diplomatic mediator. Despite its relatively modest geographical size, Togo punches significantly above its weight on the African continent.
A central focus of the presentation is Togo's exceptional logistical infrastructure, which capitalizes on its strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea. The Port of Lomé serves as the cornerstone of this strategy; as West Africa's only natural deep-water port, it presently handles over 30.6 million tonnes of cargo annually. It ranks as the region's premier container transit point and functions as an indispensable economic lifeline for landlocked Sahelian nations like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Furthermore, the Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport reinforces this connectivity by acting as a major aviation hub for ASKY Airlines, accommodating over 1.5 million passengers yearly. Economically, Togo demonstrates a resilient growth rate of approximately 5.3 percent and is actively transitioning from a transit-based economy to an industrialized model through initiatives like the Adétikopé Industrial Platform. This structural transformation is heavily supported by a dynamic population of 8.8 million people and substantial human capital investments driven by public institutions such as the University of Lomé and the University of Kara. Politically, the country maintains security and stability, having shifted to a parliamentary system in May 2024 to establish a new model of institutional governance.
Beyond trade, the presentation thoroughly emphasizes Togo's robust soft power strategy as the highly respected "Swiss of Africa". Rooted in a strict policy of non-interference, Lomé has historically brokered significant peace agreements, including the 1999 Lomé Peace Accord for Sierra Leone. Today, President Faure Gnassingbé effectively continues this celebrated legacy of quiet diplomacy. In the volatile Sahel region, Togo has kept dialogue and maritime ports open for transition governments, most notably securing the 2023 release of 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali. Furthermore, Togo actively mediates the complex conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda by championing a strategic "Framework of Coherence". This framework gracefully aligns overlapping regional peace initiatives, such as the Luanda and Nairobi processes, to ensure unified diplomatic action.
Ultimately, Togo's national success is securely built upon a dual-pillar strategy balancing cutting-edge physical logistics with impartial diplomacy. By seamlessly connecting both goods and people across borders, Togo definitively proves itself to be an indispensable anchor for continental peace, economic resilience, and sustained regional integration.
Keywords: Logistics Hub, Deep-Water Port of Lomé, Regional Mediator, Strategic Neutrality, West Africa Gateway, Transshipment, ECOWAS, Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), Sahel Stability, Great Lakes
◆Speaker: Mr. D. E. Kekeli MOUVY, Chargé d'Affaires, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Togo
Bio-note: Dodzivi Eva Kekeli Mouvy is a Togolese diplomat with over fifteen years of experience in international relations, public administration, and diplomatic protocol. After serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked at the Prime Minister's Office as Chief of Protocol from 2014 to 2020, coordinating high-level state ceremonies.
Since 2020, he has been posted to Japan. Currently serving as Chargé d'Affaires a.i., he heads the Embassy of the Republic of Togo, overseeing bilateral relations with Japan and outreach across the Asia-Pacific. His responsibilities encompass political and economic diplomacy, investment promotion, and multilateral engagement.
Alongside his diplomatic duties, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the International University of Leadership in Florida. His research focuses on how multilateral partnership platforms generate concrete development outcomes for Africa, aiming to strengthen strategic diplomacy that links international cooperation with national priorities.
◆Date：Wednesday, May 27th, 2026/ 5:40p.m.～7:10p.m.（JST） 8:40a.m.～10:10a.m.（GMT)
◆Venue：Hybrid
・Onsite Room 103（1F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS Fuchu Campus）＆ Online（ZoomMeeting）
・Access：https://www.tufs.ac.jp/abouttufs/contactus/access.html
◆Language：English (No taranslate)
◆Addmission fee：FREE
Please pre-register in advence from here. Or Use QR Code.
※ The Zoom link will be sent after you pre-registerd.
Registration deadline: Noon May 27th, 2026 (WED)
◆Jointly organized by African Studies Center - TUFS and Kanto Branch of Japan Association for African Studies