Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, that Togo had chosen to support Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger because their security was closely connected to regional stability.
Speaking to France 24 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Dussey argued that isolating the three Alliance of Sahel States countries would not resolve insecurity in the region. He called for dialogue between the alliance and the Economic Community of West African States.
Dussey said the three countries had chosen to establish their own confederation and questioned calls for their return to ECOWAS.
Turning to insecurity in northern Togo, the minister said cooperation with Burkina Faso had helped contain terrorist groups. The Savanes region has faced attacks since November 2021, but Dussey maintained that the area was now more peaceful than four years ago.
He also rejected reports that more than 300 members of Russia’s Africa Corps were operating in Togo. He said Russian military trainers were present only to train Togolese personnel to operate equipment, including helicopters.
Dussey added that Togo had maintained diplomatic relations with Russia since May 1, 1960, covering political, diplomatic and commercial cooperation.
He also described Togo’s relations with France as good despite recent tensions, including the suspension of France 24 and Radio France Internationale in 2025 and the detention of two French directors and a Togolese colleague in July 2026. The three were granted provisional release in early September.