On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Togo and Rwanda have signed three agreements. They are intended to deepen political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The documents were signed on 23 September by Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey and his Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe. The first agreement provides for regular political consultations, in which the two countries will discuss matters of common interest as well as regional and international issues. The second establishes a Joint Cooperation Commission to set priorities and monitor implementation. The third is a framework agreement that provides the legal basis for new partnerships in various fields.

The aim is to strengthen South-South cooperation and thereby support development and stability across Africa. Ties between Lomé and Kigali are already growing in several areas, including transport, trade and services. Since 2018, the two countries have had a liberalised air services agreement. It allows RwandAir and Lomé-based ASKY Airlines to operate direct flights between the two capitals with no limit on frequency.

The agreements fit with Togo's active foreign policy, recently on display with the UN resolution on the world map. For two countries that see themselves as reform leaders in Africa, the closer partnership signals that intra-African cooperation is gaining in importance.