- Military
There was a terror attack in Togo on July 20, 2024, targeting an advanced position of the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) at Kpékpankandi, near the Burkina Faso border. Claimed by the JNIM, the attack resulted in multiple soldier casualties and significant material damage, with the attackers reportedly seizing a large quantity of military equipment after taking control of the base.
----- from Le Monde -----
On July 20, 2024, a significant attack by approximately 100 jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) targeted a Togolese military outpost at Kpinkankandi, near the Burkina Faso border. The attackers arrived on motorcycles and in pickup trucks armed with heavy weaponry, including machine guns and mortars. They overwhelmed the Togolese forces, taking control of the base for over three hours before retreating to Burkina Faso, leaving behind a scene of plundered military equipment and vehicles. Reports vary on casualties, with GSIM claiming six soldiers were killed, while Togolese sources suggest a higher death toll.
The attack is the most severe Togo has experienced, and it underscores the increasing threat from jihadist groups moving into the country from Burkina Faso. Despite an ongoing military operation and significant reinforcement of troops along the border, Togo continues to face incursions from these extremist groups. The Togolese government has remained largely silent about the security situation, with limited official statements and a general lack of transparency. This situation comes amid political changes in Togo, including a controversial constitutional amendment that critics argue could extend President Faure Gnassingbé's rule indefinitely.