- Togo has granted occupants of public land in Greater Lomé and the Lacs coastal municipalities an additional three weeks before launching the final phase of eviction operations.
- Authorities said the operation aims to restore state control over public land, protect the coastline from environmental degradation and improve public safety.
- The eviction drive coincides with the CFA33 billion WACA ResIP coastal protection program, which includes shoreline defenses and beach restoration projects.
Occupants of public land in Greater Lomé and the coastal municipalities of Togo's Lacs prefecture have received an additional three weeks to vacate the sites before authorities begin the final phase of a long-planned eviction campaign.
Officials announced the extension on Friday, July 31, during a press briefing at the headquarters of the Autonomous District of Greater Lomé (DAGL). Governor Zouréhatou Kassah-Traoré, the prefects of Golfe and Lacs, and members of the ad hoc committee overseeing the operation attended the event.
Operation Follows a Year of Consultations
The extension comes as the government prepares to launch the final stage of its campaign to clear unauthorized occupations from public land. Governor Kassah-Traoré said authorities had already postponed the operation several times in response to requests from business operators.
The government initially scheduled the operation for February 2026 before postponing it to March 31 and later to June 30 to allow occupants to leave voluntarily.
After the June deadline expired, the Association of Bar Owners (ATER) requested another extension until January 2027. The government rejected that request.
Authorities said the competent agencies will remove structures built without authorization or occupying public land under expired permits once the new three-week deadline expires.
Protecting Public Land
Governor Kassah-Traoré said the operation extends well beyond bars located along the coastline. She said the campaign responds to "the need to restore the authority of the State, protect public land, preserve the coastline against environmental degradation, guarantee public safety and ensure a more rational use of public space."
Authorities added that coastal erosion affects a significant portion of Togo's 50-kilometer shoreline, where the coastline retreats by an estimated 5 to 10 meters each year, according to official estimates.
The eviction campaign coincides with major investments under the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP), which receives financing from the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD).
The nearly CFA33 billion program includes the construction of 22 coastal groynes between Gbodjomé and Goumoukopé, as well as beach nourishment and lagoon restoration works designed to strengthen coastal resilience.
Authorities reiterated that they will not compensate occupants who illegally settled on public land. They also urged residents to rely on official information and said the operation seeks to promote more rational and sustainable land use amid growing pressure on Togo's coastline.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum