US Visa Policy: The U.S. has made its visa bond programme permanent, with consular officers able to require refundable deposits up to USD 20,000 for some B1/B2 applicants from 50 countries (including many in Africa). The rule takes effect Monday after a year-long pilot, with bond levels set case-by-case and refunds tied to compliance. Togo-BCEAO Business Dialogue: In Lomé, the CNP-Togo and BCEAO held their 2026 consultation, focusing on credit access, cross-border trade frictions and foreign exchange rules, as firms push for macro gains to translate into easier financing and smoother banking. Digital Connectivity Fees: Togo adopted a new fee structure for radio frequencies to support satellite services, aiming to expand connectivity in underserved areas and enable IoT/M2M applications. Regional Infrastructure Finance: The ECOWAS Bank (EBID) signed a $91.63m deal with Bauchi State for 24 road and bridge projects, targeting lower transport costs and market access. ECOWAS Risk Financing Window: Stakeholders in Lomé are drafting an operating manual for an ECOWAS risk financing window to respond faster to food, climate and livestock crises. Togo Education Leadership: Togo appointed the first leadership for the new University of Datcha (Plateaux), as construction continues under a public-private partnership. UN Support in Togo: The UN system says it mobilized $53.6m in 2025 to reach over 1.2m people across Togo, including work on governance, growth and climate resilience.