Togo is facing headwinds on the governance front. According to the latest indicators of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 — which assesses peace, justice and the effectiveness of institutions — the country has recorded a notable decline: its overall score has thus fallen from 47.4 in 2021 to 42.5 in 2025 .

Behind this accounting trajectory lie structural challenges that weigh on the daily lives of Togolese people.

Administrative corruption, a persistent problem

Although efforts are visible, the perception of corruption remains deeply ingrained. For many citizens, resorting to "connections" (personal relationships) or informal bribes is still seen as a necessary step to expedite administrative procedures, unblock legal cases, or simply avoid bureaucratic hassles.

Freedom of the press: a new but fragile breath of fresh air

The Togolese media landscape has experienced significant fluctuations. The press freedom index jumped from 29.3 out of 100 in 2020 to 50.9 in 2024, before declining slightly to 48 in 2025 .

The key takeaway: While media professionals generally have a more open workspace than at the beginning of the decade, self-censorship persists. Faced with the risk of pressure or legal action, some journalists still hesitate to tackle highly sensitive topics.

The burden of pre-trial detention

The other major issue highlighted in the report concerns the prison system, characterized by slow judicial procedures. Even though the proportion of prisoners awaiting trial has decreased slightly (from 64.6% in 2018 to 60% in 2021 ), the reality remains worrying: more than half of the detainees in Togo languish in their cells without having been tried, suspended pending the recognition of their guilt or innocence.

The gamble of education to change mindsets

Faced with these findings, the Togolese government is taking a long-term approach by tackling the root of the problem: the schools. In July 2025, the government formalized the integration of ethics, citizenship, and responsibility courses into the school curriculum.

The central idea is to instill in children from a young age the values of honesty, respect for public property, and rejection of corruption. By shaping students aware of their civic duties, the authorities hope to see the emergence of a new generation of civil servants impervious to bribery and, ultimately, restore the bond of trust between citizens and the state.