At the Berlin symposium marking the 140th anniversary of the Berlin Conference on Africa, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey emphasized the need for a “sincere” dialogue between Africa and Europe. However, in an interview with Deutsche Welle, conducted in French, he strongly criticized how international media portray the African continent.
When asked about Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s exit from ECOWAS, Dussey responded firmly: “Does that concern you?”, rejecting external interference in African affairs. He insisted on respecting the sovereignty of Sahelian states: “These countries have decided to form an alliance […]. As Togo’s Foreign Minister, I respect their sovereignty because we do not interfere in such matters.”
He also criticized the presence of multiple foreign representatives for Africa, questioning the imbalance in international relations: “Since when does the continent have a representative for Europe?” He called for a reassessment of current intervention models on the continent.
However, his strongest criticism was directed at the media’s portrayal of Africa: “When we look at your media, Africa is always in crisis,” he said, arguing that the continent is consistently depicted in a negative light. He urged for a more respectful and balanced approach: “We want Africa to be respected as a continent. […] No one is superior to us.”
As a reminder, the Togolese government’s recent stances on pan-Africanism and its apparent support for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have drawn criticism from several observers and the Togolese opposition, who see these statements as a way to deflect from accountability on Togo’s own democratic issues.