Togo: Russia aims to make Lomé port a gateway for its goods to the Sahel

Russia aims to turn Lomé's deep-water port into a hub for its shipments to West Africa, especially the Sahel. During the intergovernmental commission meeting in Lomé from September 29 to October 1, 2026, Russian Transport Vice-Minister Alexeï Chilo announced plans to establish a transport corridor between Russia and the Sahel. Relations between Moscow and Lomé have strengthened since President Faure Gnassingbé's visit to Vladimir Poutine in November 2025, which included a military cooperation agreement. A Russian business mission also visited Togo to establish commercial contacts and assess costs and timelines for the project.