Africa-Press. Togo has witnessed a new wave of appointments within its military and security institutions, including a change in the leadership of the armed forces and the appointment of a new head of the national intelligence agency, as part of a series of decrees issued in the capital, Lomé.
The Togolese authorities issued about ten decrees that primarily focused on the redistribution of senior positions within the military and security agencies, alongside the promotion of several officers considered close and loyal to Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé.
The most notable of these changes was the promotion of Colonel Chakbili Aklissou to the rank of Brigadier General, before his appointment as the head of the general staff of the Togolese armed forces. Aklissou is regarded as a close officer to the Prime Minister, having previously served as the director general of the national intelligence agency and earlier held the position of head of the presidential guard.
According to observers familiar with the power circles in Lomé, the new chief of staff faces three main tasks: ensuring the defense of the country, enhancing coordination among the various branches of the armed forces, and continuing efforts to combat terrorism, especially in light of the security challenges facing Togo and the West African region.
A diplomatic source in the Togolese capital commented on Aklissou’s appointment, stating: “With him, the Prime Minister can sleep peacefully,” referring to the level of trust the new officer enjoys with the political leadership.
With Aklissou’s transition to the leadership of the armed forces, the position of director general of the national intelligence agency became vacant, before the leadership of the agency was assigned to a Colonel, as part of the changes affecting the country’s security institutions.
The changes were not limited to the senior leadership of the armed forces but extended to several military branches. The Togolese army is now under the command of Colonel Kombati Latimby, while Colonel Idrissou Abdu Ahabo has taken over the leadership of the air force.
Observers believe that the appointments of these two officers confirm the continued trust of the political leadership in them, contrary to some rumors suggesting they might lose their favor within the military institution.
The appointments also included Colonel Kilimo Mazama Iso, who was appointed by Faure Gnassingbé as his chief of staff. A regional security source described him as a discreet officer capable of separating different files, adding that he “knows how to distinguish matters, just like his superior.”
These changes come at a time when Togolese authorities continue to reorganize leadership structures within military and security institutions, amid increasing regional security challenges, particularly with the ongoing threat from armed groups in the Sahel and the spillover effects of security disturbances in neighboring West African countries.
As part of the redistribution of positions, the new appointments also included the national civil aviation agency, which was assigned to a pilot brigadier general, reflecting the broad scope of changes to include institutions linked to the security, military, and aviation systems in the country.
