Togo: An African partner at the heart of subregional trade flows
In the second quarter of 2025, Togo has established itself as a key player in the Cameroon’s external trade, marking a strategic shift that goes beyond mere commercial exchange. With imports valued at 167.4 billion CFA francs a significant 31% increase from 127.7 billion the previous year this growth is almost entirely driven by petroleum oils and bituminous minerals, which alone account for 162.7 billion CFA francs.
This rise underscores the central role of Togo in Cameroon’s energy supply. Import volumes increased from 245,072 to 283,175 tons, confirming that this trade corridor is becoming a pillar of Cameroon’s national energy security.
In a regional context still heavily dependent on distant markets, Togo represents a strategic, reliable, and geographically close partner, bolstering intra-African trade and strengthening sub-regional economic integration.
The growing presence of Togo also highlights an institutional and political shift, where bilateral trade is transforming into a lever for development; one that can support local industry, stabilize energy infrastructure, and create sustainable prospects for oil-dependent industrial sectors.
Furthermore, it demonstrates the capacity of African nations to rely on their neighbors to build a sovereign and resilient energy chain, gradually reducing vulnerabilities linked to imports from outside the continent.
In this dynamic, Togo is moving beyond the role of a mere supplier to become a strategic partner, proving that geographical proximity and regional cooperation are now decisive assets in building economic sovereignty.
This repositioning reflects a clear-eyed and proactive approach to trade flows, where every imported barrel contributes to securing development and asserting regional autonomy.
The growing importance of Togo in Cameroonian trade is not merely a statistical change; it signals a new posture, that of an African partner capable of durably and strategically supporting its neighbor’s energy and industrial growth.
By cementing its place at the heart of regional trade flows, Togo demonstrates that the economic future of the region is being built first and foremost through African cooperation and solidarity.
Kodjovi MAKAFUI
