Togo : Lome Plays Host To Peace And Security Forum

The Togolese capital Lome has since Friday, October 20, 2023 been hosting the first “Lome Peace and Security Forum (LPSF)”. The three-day forum officially opened on Saturday, October 21, 2023, by the country’s Prime Minister, Mrs. Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe, aims to be an African framework for exchanges, discussions and sharing of experiences on peace, security and the future of Africa. The LPSF is a space for dialogue on Africa’s political, security and development challenges.
The forum initiated by the Togolese government focuses on the theme, “How to strengthen political transitions towards democratic governance in Africa.” During the opening ceremony, several speeches highlighting the need for Africans to “build an Africa of peace and security” marked the ceremony. A message from African youth was also delivered by Ms. Emily Katshuna from Namibia, who indicated that, “African youth must have financial autonomy to develop further, we need the promotion of solidarity to meet the challenges facing the continent.” 
On Saturday, during the panel on “political transitions” in Africa, the main theme of the debate, most participants agreed that Africa needs democracy, but it should be “an African-style democracy”. To some speakers, especially those from coup-led countries, abandoning one partner for another is not a solution. In other words, shifting allegiance, for instance, from France to Russia, does not resolve issues, but merely relocates them. They emphasized the need for ...