Togo’s Senate on December 23 approved the country’s 2026 finance law, endorsing a CFA2,751.5 trillion (US$4.6 billion) budget that underscores the government’s push to support growth, social spending and institutional consolidation.
The budget, adopted in Lomé, balances revenues and expenditures at CFA2,751.5 trillion (US$4.6 billion) matching the version earlier passed by the National Assembly. It marks the first time in Togo’s history that a national budget has been reviewed and approved by both chambers of parliament, following the establishment of the Senate under the Fifth Republic.
Compared with the initial draft presented by the executive, which stood at CFA2,740.5 trillion (US$4.6 billion), the final budget was increased by nearly CFA11 billion during parliamentary review. Relative to the revised 2025 budget of CFA2,436 billion (4.6 billion) the 2026 package represents a 12.93 percent increase.
Senate President Barry Moussa Barqué described the vote as a milestone in the country’s institutional development.
“The adoption of the 2026 finance law marks a decisive step in Togo’s institutional evolution,” Barqué said, adding that it embeds the priorities of the Fifth Republic within a consolidated and coherent budgetary framework.
According to the Senate, the higher allocation reflects the authorities’ intention to support economic growth and macroeconomic stability, while placing citizens at the centre of public policy and consolidating social gains in favour of more inclusive and sustainable development.
Finance and Budget Minister Georges Essowè Barcola welcomed the approval, saying it equips the government with the necessary tools to deliver on its policy agenda.
“This vote gives the government the means to effectively implement its public policy programme,” Barcola said. “The finance law is a key instrument of the democratic pact, aimed at building a stronger, more resilient and more inclusive economy.”
While detailed sectoral allocations were not disclosed during the Senate session, recent government statements have emphasised priorities including infrastructure investment, social protection, education, healthcare and youth employment, alongside continued efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.
Togo has stepped up reforms to improve tax collection and broaden the revenue base, helping to create fiscal space for higher spending. Authorities have also stressed the importance of maintaining debt sustainability amid rising development needs and a challenging global environment.
The approval of the 2026 budget by both chambers is seen as reinforcing institutional checks and balances at a time of political transition. Analysts say the bicameral review process could strengthen budget credibility and transparency, provided parliamentary oversight remains robust.
With the finance law now adopted, the government is expected to move quickly to implement its spending plans from the start of the 2026 fiscal year, as it seeks to sustain growth momentum and address social pressures in one of West Africa’s smaller but reform-oriented economies.
