Togo has been living under a state of health emergency since April 2, 2020. The land borders that are still closed weigh on traders who no longer know which way to turn.

Although official figures indicate a low incidence of the spread of the virus with some 13,000 recorded infections and 126 deaths in more than a year of crisis, populations remain subject to restrictive measures and the economy is struggling. The economic growth rate fell to 1.8% in 2020 against an initial forecast of 5.5%, according to official figures, a direct consequence of the global health crisis. A September 2020 study by the World Bank confirms that border closures, social distancing measures and travel restrictions have dealt a severe blow to economic activity in Togo