Safety in Togo: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 15 January 2026.
Safety
- State of emergency: north — After a terrorist attack on the Burkina Faso border in May 2022, a state of emergency was declared in the north of the country in June 2022 and has been extended to March 2026. Travel and stays in the Savanes region are strongly advised against, and a particularly high level of watchfulness is asked for in the Kara region.
- Emergency zone permit — To go into the areas covered by the state of emergency you must request authorisation from the Ministère des Armées at least 30 days in advance.
- Borders to avoid — Movement in the north of the country is advised against. Crossing into Burkina Faso at Mandouri and Sinkasse is advised against, as is crossing into the northern zone of Benin.
- Kidnapping risk — Terrorist groups operating in the region treat places frequented by tourists as targets, and foreigners can be exposed to kidnapping, particularly in the northern regions near the Burkina Faso border.
- Crime — Bag-snatching and theft, sometimes armed, occur in several towns, both in the street and in homes. Scams against tourists and foreigners are numerous, often baited online and followed by requests to send money.
- Demonstrations — Keep movement to the essential when demonstrations are taking place, and avoid gatherings of any kind, political ones above all.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 15 January 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Togo before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 15 January 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.