On the sidelines of the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow at the end of October, institutions from Togo and Russia signed two cooperation agreements and a memorandum of understanding. They include scholarships for students from Togo and closer exchange on human rights.

The agreements are part of a rapprochement that both governments are actively pursuing. In November 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Faure Gnassingbé, who leads Togo’s government as President of the Council of Ministers, at the Kremlin. The two agreed to open embassies and to set up a joint intergovernmental commission. At its first session in Lomé at the end of September, the commission set out the areas in which further agreements are to be drawn up, including trade, energy and transport. Economic ties remain modest so far: in 2024, trade stood at around 103.7 million US dollars, mostly Russian goods sold to Togo.

The first of the two Moscow agreements, with the Russian non-profit organisation Eurasia, covers humanitarian aid, education, research and culture. Agricultural training centres are also under discussion. The second, with Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s state agency for cultural relations abroad, provides for scholarships for students from Togo. In addition, Togo’s National Human Rights Commission and Russia’s human rights commissioner agreed to work more closely together.

In 2025, the two countries had already concluded a military agreement, which has met with some criticism in Togo. Like other West African states, Togo is reweighting its international partnerships. Whether people in Togo will benefit from the new agreements remains to be seen.