White Soldiers in Togolese Uniforms: Undisclosed Turkish Military Presence in Togo

French magazine "Jeune Afrique" has revealed details of a security and military strategy pursued by Togo for years to counter the expansion of extremist groups coming from the Sahel region, pointing to indicators of an undisclosed Turkish role in these efforts through the deployment of Turkish military personnel and training provided to Togolese forces.

According to an investigation conducted by the magazine, Togo has strengthened its security measures on the border with Burkina Faso by creating a defensive trench extending hundreds of kilometers, in an area witnessing activity by armed groups seeking to expand their range of movement from the Sahel towards the Atlantic Ocean.

The magazine quoted the President of the Togolese Senate, Barry Moussa Barqué, as saying that these facilities, despite their high cost, allow for better containment of armed groups. However, the implementation of the project was not without risks, as employees of the company "Ibomaf," tasked with the work and belonging to Burkinabè businessman Mahamado Bongongo, who is close to Senate President Faure Gnassingbé, were attacked by extremists in the Fanorgo area in October 2024, resulting in the death of several of them, according to what the company confirmed.

In parallel with the creation of border fortifications, the Togolese army began building military bases to host its troops and organize response operations to attacks. One of these bases is located near the Bounio area on the border with Burkina Faso, while another is located in the Dhiyaga area, about 20 kilometers from Dapaong, the capital of the Savanes Region.

"Jeune Afrique" stated that it obtained satellite images indicating the start of construction work on the second base in September 2023, explaining that the company "Ibomaf" undertook the execution of the works after relocating and compensating landowners. The base covers an area of approximately 10 hectares, while the army imposed strict restrictions on approaching it.

"White soldiers" in the Togolese army uniform

According to testimonies conveyed by the magazine from local residents, the Dhiyaga area witnessed the arrival of groups of "white soldiers" in late December 2023 aboard dozens of yellow buses, accompanied by the Togolese army, while others spotted some of them in the city of Dapaong.

The investigation linked these testimonies to photos taken following an extremist attack targeting a border point in Kpeikankandi on June 8, 2025, which resulted in the death of two Togolese soldiers, as the photos showed men wearing military uniforms with white skin alongside members of the Togolese army.

The magazine indicated that local testimonies suggest these men are not French or Russian speakers, while other sources confirmed that some of them may be Turks.

One resident of Dapaong said they appear regularly in the vicinity of the city, wearing the same uniform as the Togolese armed forces, without distinguishing insignia.

According to information from the investigation, these men were transported from Lomé airport to Niamtogo airport near the city of Kara, before being moved in secured ground convoys to Dapaong, where some of their officers reside in villas unofficially, then they were distributed among sub-military bases.

At least 300 Turkish elements

"Jeune Afrique" quoted local sources estimating the presence of at least 300 elements of these individuals in the Savanes Region, with the possibility that the number is larger. Despite no official announcement from Togo or Turkey regarding their presence, a Togolese officer working in the area acknowledged the existence of a "Turkish unit in Togo" participating in military operations, conditioning his statement to the magazine on not revealing his identity.

In June 2025, Togolese Minister Gilbert Bawara denied the use of Turkish fighters within the country, but he acknowledged the presence of trainers who came from Turkey to train the army on using Turkish-made drones purchased by Lomé.

The Togolese government did not respond to a new request from the magazine to comment on the information contained in the investigation.

The magazine quoted a security source close to Tel Aviv as saying that the Turks replaced the Israelis during 2022 and 2023, especially in the field of training soldiers working on the front line against extremist groups, estimating the number present there at hundreds of people, and indicating that their mission focuses primarily on training special forces."

Sadat".. Turkish company under suspicion

Information from the investigation suggests a possible link between these men and the company "Sadat International Defense Consultancy," a Turkish company founded in 2012 by retired General Adnan Tanrıverdi, who had been close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since the 1990s.

The company presents itself as an institution specialized in consulting, training, and military equipment for Islamic countries, while media reports and investigations have likened it to private military companies, including the former Russian group "Wagner."

Tanrıverdi publicly defended the possibility of using such companies as a tool of Turkish foreign policy. After his death in August 2024, his son Melih Tanrıverdi took over the management of the company, denying in an interview with "Jeune Afrique" in 2024 the employment of mercenaries for African states, but he acknowledged that the company works with a number of countries on the continent approaching ten nations.

"Sadat" describes Francophone Africa as a promising market for its activities, as its head Melih Tanrıverdi previously spoke about plans to translate the company's publications and website into French, and to expand communication with ambassadors, ministers, and military officials in African countries speaking this language.

Erdogan's visit to Togo opens the door to questions

The investigation links the beginning of the potential Turkish role in Togo to President Erdogan's visit to the capital Lomé on October 19, 2021, which Togolese authorities described at the time as historic, and in which businessman Mahamado Bongongo participated.

The Togolese government or the Turkish embassy in Lomé did not provide answers to the magazine's questions regarding the nature of the Turkish presence, while the investigation mentioned that the Savanes Region has been under a state of emergency since 2022, and that Faure Gnassingbé assumed the defense portfolio himself in the same year, after attaching the ministry to the presidency.

The investigation confirmed that Gnassingbé retains broad authority over his country's security and military alliances, including the undisclosed arrangements surrounding the Turkish role in confronting extremist groups.