SUMMARY
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Togo has remained relatively peaceful, with only a few peaks of violence over the years. Under authoritarian rule, Togo has experienced periods of political turmoil, during which peaceful demonstrations were met with one-sided violence by security forces. More recently, Togo has faced growing security challenges, as the threat posed by jihadist groups in neighboring countries has begun to spill over into its northern region.
Since 1989, Togo has experienced the intrastate, non-state and one-sided categories of organized violence, as defined by UCDP.
2025
In 2025, the level of organized violence in Togo remained roughly consistent with previous years. Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) continued to be the main actor involved in state-based organized violence.
The level of state-based violence, reflecting the conflict over governmental power between the Togolese government and JNIM, increased compared to 2024 and reached its highest levels since JNIM started its cross-border incursions into Togo. The violence remained largely centered in the Savanes region, which borders Burkina Faso in the north and was characterized by small-scale attacks, often planting mines. In July 2025, Togo's Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed JNIM’s presence in the north of the country, stating that the armed group had killed eight soldiers and 54 civilians during the first half of the year.
One-sided violence amid political instability
Over the years, Togo has seen relatively long periods of peace, although there are a few notable peaks of violence in the country. The first outburst of violence occurred in the early 1990s, when both non-state and one-sided violence peaked. In 1991, the non-state conflict between ethnic groups Moba and Chakosi escalated, resulting in 31 deaths. At the same time, the country experienced political instability, with the authoritarian regime facing mounting pressure from the population. In 1991, one-sided violence by the Togolese government took place in relation to anti-government demonstrations that culminated in the killing of 28 demonstrators in Lome. Two years later, following a politically unstable period and power struggles within the government, demonstrations were again met with violent repression. The most violent event in 1993 was when security forces shot dead 19 peaceful demonstrators in Lome.
The second peak, also being one-sided violence perpetrated by the Togolese government, occurred in 2005. Once more, the country was troubled by political instability. Following elections overshadowed by violence, fraud and irregularities, the military and security forces proceeded with heavy violence against demonstrators and members of opposition parties, killing over 400 people in the months of April and May alone. The majority of the one-sided violence took place in Atakpame and Lome.
JNIM's Incursion into Togo
In late 2021, the mounting security threat of jihadist violence emanating from the Sahel region started to spill over into Togo. Despite having proactively taken measures to strengthen its defenses along its borders with severely affected Burkina Faso, recognizing the need to uphold security in the Savanes region, Togo encountered increasing difficulties in repelling attacks within its own territory. In 2022, the state-based conflict over government between the Togolese government and JNIM became active. On 11 May 2022, JNIM made their first claim in Togo. In the following years, JNIM has targeted both civilians and Togolese security forces in the Savanes region. Small-scale clashes with government soldiers and a frequent use of IEDs by JNIM have also continued, while the conflict reached its highest levels of violence in 2024.
Pre-1989 conflicts
UCDP has recorded one state-based conflict over government power in Togo before 1989. In September 1986, Togo experienced a short intrastate conflict when a coup was staged against President Eyadéma. The attackers targeted the national radio station, Eyadéma residence, which was made up of military barracks, and the headquarters of the ruling party, Eyadéma’s RPT (Rassemblement du peuple togolais, Rally of the Togolese People). According to the Togolese government, the coup was an attempt by the exiled political opposition party MTD (Mouvement togolais pour la démocratie, Togolese Movement for Democracy) to topple Eyadéma and to install MTD leader and son of a former Togolese president, Gilchrist Olympio, as president. However, the coup attempt was foiled by the Togolese army.
