2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report

This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Lomé. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Togo. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Togo country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

Travel Advisory

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Togo at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions Reconsider travel to the northern border region adjacent to due to potential for terrorism and kidnapping. Exercise increased caution in areas north of Kande due to potential for terrorism; and the cities of Sokodé, Bafilo, and Mango due to civil unrest. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

Crime Threats

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lomé as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Criminals may target foreigners based on perceived affluence or perceived vulnerability. Pickpocketing incidents and theft are common in Togo, especially along the beach and in the market areas of Lomé. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind.

In recent years, violent crime has become increasingly prevalent throughout the country. Incidents have included the use of machetes and knives, firearms, and makeshift weapons, as well as the use of ruses or trickery to lure in a victim. Robbery victims should comply with the demands of perpetrators, as perpetrators may be armed, and resisting may cause the situation to escalate to violence. There have been sophisticated armed robberies, often committed by organized transnational criminal groups. Residential and business burglaries are frequent in Lomé. Crowds sometimes target criminals (real or perceived) for vigilante justice. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security.

There are incidents of carjacking and other violent crimes targeting travelers along roads in Togo, especially outside of major cities. Roadside criminals are more likely to target travelers after dark.

Avoid certain areas within Lomé at night, including public beaches and Boulevard du Mono (aka the “beach road”) due to elevated risk of crime. Avoid beach areas with no security apparatus, even during daylight hours; purse-snatchings and muggings regularly occur in these areas. Avoid public beaches and Togo’s border areas with due to crime. Do not visit the Grand Marché area alone during the day; avoid the area altogether in the evening.

Closely monitor surroundings when using ATMs due to the risk of petty theft during and after ATM use. Only use ATMs during the day, and then only in areas with many people and guards around if possible. Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit.

Cybersecurity Issues

Cybercrimes continue to be a concern, particularly so-called “419” advance-fee fraud scams that involve fake payoff or fake investment schemes. Perpetrators of business fraud often target foreigners, including U.S. citizens. Formerly associated with Nigeria, these fraud schemes are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Togo, and pose dangers of financial loss and physical harm. An increasing number of U.S. citizens have been targets of such scams, resulting in losses ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

Typically, fraud scams begin with an unsolicited communication, usually by e-mail or social media, from an unknown individual who describes a situation that promises quick financial gain, often by assisting in the transfer of a large sum of money or valuables out of the country. Other common e-mail scams involve an individual claiming to be a U.S. citizen “trapped” in Togo, usually at the airport, and needs financial assistance to return to the U.S. or receive urgent medical care. Scams that are more sophisticated include targeting U.S. businesses and ordering a large amount of their product, contingent on the U.S. business providing banking information or paying legal fees.

Do not send any money; any funds sent are likely unrecoverable. Halt contact with scammers immediately. Do not attempt to recover funds in person. Report the matter immediately to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership among the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White- Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BIA). Refer to the fraud warning and additional resources on the Embassy website for more information.

Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband?

Maritime Issues

Piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea continue to trend upwards. Pirates/armed groups operating in the region typically conduct attacks on vessels using automatic weapons. Attacks, kidnappings for ransom, and robbery of crew, passengers, and ship’s property are common.

In January 2019, armed perpetrators attacked a container ship after it departed Lomé, approximately 20 nautical miles south of Cotonou, . Pirates kidnapped six crewmembers for ransom.

In May 2019, eight armed perpetrators boarded a Togolese-flagged chemical tanker at anchorage off Lomé. The perpetrators boarded the vessel from a wooden canoe to hijack and steal its cargo. Authorities dispatched two patrol boats, which successfully intercepted the tanker approximately 25 nautical miles offshore. The Navy detained the six Nigerians and two Togolese pirates for investigation and criminal processing.

In November 2019, armed pirates attacked a Greece-flagged tanker resting in Togo’s territorial waters. The vessel had armed guards from the Togolese military on board at the time of the attack. Armed perpetrators boarded the vessel and engaged in a firefight with the guards. After taking control of the vessel by force, the perpetrators proceeded to seize and remove four crew members from the vessel and take them to Nigeria. One member of the crew later died while in captivity. The kidnappers later released the other three, presumably after payment of ransom.

Transportation-Safety Situation

Road Safety and Road Conditions

While some major thoroughfares in urban parts of Togo are paved, most secondary streets are not. Streets, especially in Lomé, can become flooded and impassable when it rains. Driving conditions are hazardous throughout Togo due to aggressive and poorly trained drivers who are not licensed and often carry loads over their vehicle’s capacity. Avoid driving outside of Lomé after dark; the U.S. Embassy approves such travel for employees in emergencies only.

The presence of pedestrians, bicyclists, animals on the road, swarms of motorcycles, and gaping sewer holes and deteriorating pavement make driving both inside Lomé and outside particularly hazardous. Roads outside Lomé are generally in poor condition and often contain deep potholes. There is only one national highway; it runs north-south, connecting Lomé to , and is the country’s main transit artery. This highway is prone to interruption during anti-government demonstrations, which can turn violent, especially when military or police forces deploy. Overland travel off this highway and the main east-west road connecting Lomé to Accra and Cotonou is usually on unpaved roads and may require four- wheel drive vehicles. Togo also has a mountainous region abutting Ghana with roads that can rise to an altitude of 500 meters within a few kilometers of driving.

Traffic signals often do not function properly or are missing from major intersections. If you choose to drive in Togo, observe someone else drive before doing so yourself in order to familiarize yourself with atypical driving practices, including stopping prior to entering a traffic circle. You should be prepared for drivers who run red lights and stop signs, or drive in the wrong direction on one-way streets. Driving can be chaotic, particularly in the crowded city center and in the dense neighborhoods along the Ghanaian border.

At official checkpoints, Togolese security officials prefer that you approach with your interior light on, headlights dimmed, and have your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance ready. Carry copies of important documents, such as your passport and driver’s license, to provide to authorities rather than handing over your originals. Never make a “grease payment” or bribe to the police or gendarmes for them to perform their work or to be let go. Be firm and polite, and ask for permission to drive with the arresting officer trailing in his vehicle or motorbike to the nearest police precinct if you cannot reach a resolution on the street. Do not let the officer into your vehicle.

Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.

Public Transportation Conditions

Public buses provide infrequent and unreliable service. Although the U.S. government does not explicitly prohibit employees from using public transportation, it strongly encourages them to avoid doing so due to safety and crime concerns. Public transportation systems do not meet Western safety standards and are generally unsafe.

Trains carry freight only.

Use of taxis presents numerous safety concerns. Taxi services are unreliable, vehicles are typically old and not in good condition, and drivers do not observe traffic laws. Theft while riding in taxis is common; thieves steal bags, wallets, and passports. Do not share taxicabs with strangers. When using taxis, negotiate fares before getting in, and insist that the driver not stop for additional passengers, even if rates cost more. Embassy personnel may not use motorcycle taxis, which have significantly higher rates of accident, injury, and mortality.

Review OSAC’s report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

Airline travel is largely reliable. Security measures screening passengers at the airport are satisfactory, though options are limited. Lomé–Tokoin Airport (LFW), also known as Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, is a new, modern facility used as a hub for a reliable regional airline. There is a direct flight from Lomé to Newark, New Jersey and an onward flight to Houston, Texas.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Togo’s Civil Aviation Authority as compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards and has made recommendations to improve procedural security. The FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have not restricted direct flights to the U.S. from Togo.

Terrorism Threat

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lomé as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. There are currently no known indigenous terrorist organizations operating in Togo; however, regional violent extremist organizations (including affiliates of al-Qa’ida and ISIS) in Burkina Faso, Mali, and could exploit Togo’s porous borders and limited security resources to target Western interests in Togo. This includes kidnapping-for-ransom operations that have occurred recently in all three aforementioned countries, as well as in neighboring Benin’s Pendjari National Park.

U.S. government personnel may not travel to the border region north and northeast of Dapaong due to terrorist activity in adjacent areas of southeast Burkina Faso; the Embassy strongly discourages travel by private U.S. citizens in this area.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lomé as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Civil Unrest

Demonstrations, strikes, marches, and public protests are common throughout the country. In 2017, 2018 and early 2019, recurring political demonstrations took place in Lomé and major cities, particularly Sokodé, Bafilo, and Mango, as anti-government protestors called for political reforms. On multiple occasions, these protests escalated to violence. Participants in demonstrations may burn vehicles and other objects and throw stones indiscriminately. Avoid demonstrations and protest routes, as even peaceful demonstrations may turn confrontational. Security forces have used coercive crowd control techniques, including tear gas and batons. There have been reported beatings of demonstrators, as well as deaths of participants and law enforcement officers. Security forces have moved quickly to disperse crowds and remove improvised barricades, especially in response to unauthorized protests along the national highway or near government buildings or universities.

In Lomé, political opposition groups typically announce large protests in advance, although unannounced gatherings have occurred. Authorized demonstrations in the capital usually proceed along pre- determined routes, according to set times, and are mainly confined to the city center, as well as the neighborhoods of Bé and Agoe. Demonstrations generally do not affect airport and port operations, but traffic disruptions may occur along or near protest routes, impeding road access.

Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Floods are common during the rainy season (mid-March through June). Due to lack of infrastructure and drainage capabilities, severe rainstorms quickly inundate roadways and villages, making major routes impassable and affecting transportation within Togo.

Critical Infrastructure Concerns

Togo’s economy is developing. The country has made business reforms including improvements to its healthcare and educational systems, and new investments in infrastructure. However, the country’s infrastructure remains inadequate and often does not meet Western standards. In some parts of the country, electricity, water, and telephone services are unreliable.

The Government of Togo restricted internet and mobile communications services, including WhatsApp and Facebook, on multiple occasions during periods of potential civil unrest in late 2017. These restrictions included an internet blackout involving loss of service across multiple mobile and fixed-line broadband internet service providers for several days. Remain aware of the possibility of unannounced mobile and internet service interruptions and maintain alternative communication methods. The government does not restrict the use of satellite phones.

Economic Espionage/Intellectual Property Theft

Low-level intellectual property theft by criminals occurs, mostly in the form of piracy of music, movies, and computer software. Counterfeit goods, such as pharmaceuticals and tobacco products, are common in Togo.

Personal Identity Concerns

Women travelling alone should take similar precautions as they would in any large U.S. city while in Togo. Travel in groups and be extra vigilant after dark, particularly in the beach and central market areas of Lomé. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for female travelers.

Local law forbids “acts against nature committed with an individual of one’s sex,” widely understood to mean same-sex sexual activity, even when consensual and between committed partners. Penalties include fines and up to three years in prison. The U.S. Embassy has no knowledge of Togolese prosecution against U.S. citizens for same-sex activity. For more detailed information about LGBTI+ rights in Togo, review U.S. Department of State Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers.

Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith- based travelers.

The Togolese government does not mandate accessibility to public or private facilities for persons with disabilities, although some buildings may have ramps and wider entrance ways. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for travelers with disabilities.

Drug-related Crime

In general, drug-related violent crimes are uncommon in Togo. However, criminals traffic narcotics into Togo. Traffickers use Lomé’s international seaport and airport as a hub, bringing drugs for transport to other parts of Africa and onward to Europe and the Americas.

Kidnapping Threat

Exercise general caution against kidnappings in Togo, especially north of Dapaong, due to violent extremist organizations in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Kidnappings are also associated with maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Review OSAC’s report, Kidnapping: The Basics.

Other Issues

Review OSAC’s report, Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.

Read the State Department’s webpage on customs and import restrictions for information on what you cannot take into or out of other countries.

Police Response

The emergency line in Togo is 117, additional numbers found below. Remain respectful and avoid confrontation when interacting with the police or gendarmes. Togolese security forces lack counterterrorism training and have limited capabilities to detect or intercept terrorists entering the country or their activities.

Policing in Togo is based on the French system. There is a national gendarmerie, which is part of the armed forces under the Defense Ministry, and a national police force under the authority of the Minister of Interior Security and Civil Protection. The police are responsible for policing neighborhoods of the capital.

All units play a role and share loosely defined responsibilities for internal security of the country. Police and gendarmes often work together. Military personnel sometimes work with police and gendarmes on security matters.

Police - 117

Gendarmerie - 172

Fire Brigade – 118

Kpalime Police: 2441 0053 Gendarmerie: 2441 0108 or 2441 0104

Kara Police: 2660 6052 Gendarmerie: 2660 6281 or 2660 6161

Atakpame Police: 2440 0101 or 2440 0123 Gendarmerie: 2440 0388 or 2440 0475

Sokode Police: 2550 0043 Gendarmerie: 2550 0090

Dapaong Police: 2770 8031 or 2770 0032 Gendarmerie: 2770 8413

Download the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.

Vetting of prospective employees with a criminal check requires a visit to the local police station responsible for the employee’s current or most recent residence.

There are several contract security companies in Lomé. Most companies offer 24-hour response capability, alarm systems, static guards, and mobile patrols. All private security guards are unarmed. Some companies will bring police as part of their response protocol. Training, experience, and organizational levels vary widely among security companies and guard contracts.

Medical Emergencies

Medical care in Togo does not meet Western standards. Medical facilities are limited and of poor quality, including in the major cities of Lomé and Kara. The standard of care, including basic medical services such as imaging or blood tests, is much lower than that of the United States and even neighboring Ghana. If you have a recurring or limiting medical condition that requires regular consultation or treatment by a medical professional, you should not travel to Togo. Resources are often inadequate, including medical imaging equipment and drug supplies. Pharmaceuticals may be of reduced quality, expired or counterfeit. Ensure you have enough supplies of medications when traveling, including over-the-counter medications. Only purchase medicines from reputable pharmacies. Medical staff may speak little or no English. Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in the larger cities, with hospital-based care only available through government institutions.

Emergency medical care is inadequate. Emergency medical services, such as fire and ambulance response, are extremely limited in response time, resources, and capacity. Emergency transport is often by taxis and motorcycles; payment is sometimes necessary before transport can occur. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website.

Credit cards are not an acceptable form of payment for medical services in Togo. Medical care and medicine typically require advance payment in cash. In the event of a serious medical condition, medical evacuation (medevac) will likely be necessary. In case of medical emergency, medevac may be to South Africa, the UK, or other locations where suitable care is available. All travelers should review their health insurance plan to determine medical services covered in Togo and consider purchasing travel health and adequate evacuation insurance in case of emergency. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas.

Mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue are widely occurring and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Prevention of bites, use of malaria prophylaxis when advised by a medical professional, and Yellow Fever immunization are important for even short-duration trips to Togo. While in Togo, you should stay indoors during the early morning and evening hours, keep windows and doors closed, and use air conditioning when sleeping if there is no mosquito net. Wear long clothing, especially in the evenings, and use insect repellents containing 20 percent DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Treat external clothing, such as jackets, mosquito nets, and tents with permethrin. All visitors should take malaria prophylaxis.

In many areas, tap water is not potable. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless you specifically request bottled water. Ice for drinks may be made using tap water. Do not swim or bathe in or drink fresh or brackish water in streams, rivers, waterfalls, or lakes in Togo. Guinea Worm and Schistosomiasis are common in Togo, and contracted primarily through exposure to fresh water, even if the body of water is fast moving or is partially salty.

There are seasonal outbreaks of hemorrhagic diseases such as Lassa fever. The following diseases are also prevalent: Typhoid; Travelers’ Diarrhea; Rabies; Meningococcal Meningitis; and Tuberculosis. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Togo.

Most adventure travel in Togo involves the ocean – swimming, whale watching, fishing, surfing, and wind surfing. Travelers coming to Togo for ocean-based recreation should use caution when engaging in these activities in a new area. The undertow is extremely strong, particularly from January to May, across the entire Bight of Benin. Water depths are variable, and water that may appear shallow near the coast can suddenly deepen due to variations in sand or wave formations. Togo has no emergency capability to respond to swimmers in distress, near drownings, or stranded or capsized vessels.

U.S. citizens have suffered serious complications or died while seeking medical care from non-traditional “healers” and practitioners in Togo. Ensure you have access to licensed emergency medical facilities in such cases.

Review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Traveling with Medication, I’m Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad.

OSAC Country Council Information

Interested U.S. private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questionsor to join the Lomé Country Council.

U.S. Embassy Contact Information

4332 Boulevard Eyadema, Cité OUA, B.P. 852, Lomé Monday-Thursday: 0730-1700, Friday: 0730-1230) Switchboard: + (228) 22-61-54-70 Website: https://tg.usembassy.gov/

Helpful Information

Before you travel, consider the following resources:

• OSAC Risk Matrix • OSAC Travelers Toolkit • State Department Traveler’s Checklist • Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)