On the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Togo and Russia have taken a concrete step in their rapprochement, signing two cooperation agreements and a memorandum of understanding in the presence of President Faure Gnassingbé. The deals cover areas as varied as education, scientific research, culture, humanitarian action and human rights.
The first agreement, concluded with the organization Eurasia, establishes a cooperation framework to develop partnerships in humanitarian action, education, scientific research, culture and social development. Eurasia could support Togo in financing projects and building infrastructure in the humanitarian, health, educational and cultural sectors.
The partnership also includes initiatives for youth, the promotion of historical memory and patriotic education. Agriculture and food security are also among the planned areas, with a project for agricultural centers and practical training structures to strengthen skills and contribute to food security.
The second agreement concerns Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian federal agency responsible for international humanitarian cooperation and relations with independent states.
It aims to strengthen cultural, humanitarian, educational and scientific exchanges between the two countries. Under the deal, Togolese students will be able to benefit from scholarships to study at Russian universities.
The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation and Togo’s National Human Rights Commission (CNDH). It aims to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions in promoting and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
According to Faure Gnassingbé, these partnerships reflect the commitment of the signatory organizations to support Togo in its economic and sociocultural sectors. They are part of a rapprochement already marked by the creation of a Russian House in Lomé, the granting of scholarships and the development of university cooperation.
In late September, the two countries held the first session of their intergovernmental joint commission in Lomé, which concluded on Oct. 1 with the signing of a procès-verbal and a memorandum of understanding on cultural heritage, while several other draft agreements remained to be finalized.
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