Togo: nuclear safety and civil liability at the heart of the national commitment
Togo continues resolutely on its path toward the responsible mastery of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. On Wednesday, April 1, during the Council of Ministers, the government adopted two draft laws authorizing the country’s accession to two major international legal instruments: The Convention on Nuclear Safety (Vienna, June 17, 1994) and the Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (Vienna, May 21, 1963).
These two texts are not mere administrative formalities. They reflect a clear vision: to make Togo a responsible state that respects the most stringent standards of radiological safety and compensation for potential victims.
The first convention aims to establish and maintain a high level of nuclear safety worldwide, thereby protecting populations and the environment against ionizing radiation while preventing accidents at civilian nuclear installations.
The second establishes a harmonized civil liability regime applicable to nuclear damage, with clear obligations, financial guarantees, and equitable compensation rules.
For Togo, this dual accession is part of a coherent dynamic. Since 2020, the country has enacted a law on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, laying the national legal foundations for an ambitious energy and medical policy.
Today, by ratifying these international conventions, Lomé confirms its determination to go further and strengthen its credibility on the global stage.
It is no coincidence that Togo has held a seat on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since September 2025.
This strategic presence reflects recognition by its peers of its seriousness and commitment.
The country does not simply observe the rules: it actively participates in their development and dissemination on the African continent.
Accession to these two conventions sends a strong signal to international partners. Togo is ready to develop civilian nuclear energy for health, agriculture, and power generation under the most rigorous safety conditions.
And in the event of an accident, victims will be protected by a clear and just legal framework. That is the responsibility of a modern state. With these two new texts, Togo writes an additional page in its technological history – a page marked by safety, peace, and the rule of law.
Kodjovi Makafui
