R 291155Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8677
INFO AMEMBASSY ACCRA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY BANGUI 
AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
AMEMBASSY COTONOU 
AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS LOME 000388 
 
 
ACCRA FOR DATT MOODY 
AF/RSA FOR BITTRICK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS MCAP PGOV KPKO TO
SUBJECT: TOGO'S OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL: INTERNATIONAL 
STUDENTS AND PKOS 
 
REF: LOME 386 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The Togolese officer candidate program is 
progressing towards regionalization by accepting students 
from the sub-region, and strives to prepare cadets for PKO 
missions.  The curriculum now includes modules on human right 
principles.  The teaching staff tailors instruction to 
prepare students for more complex missions with an 
international dimension. END SUMMARY 
 
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Background 
----------- 
 
¶2.  L'Ecole de Formation des Officiers des Forces Armees 
Togolaises (Officer Candidate School or EFOFAT) was created 
in 1995 by President Eyadema. Situated in Pya, on the 
outskirts of Kara (415 kms north of Lome), the school is 
nestled in the heartland of ethnic-Kabye territory, literally 
in the backyard of Eyadema's presidential palace. 
 
¶3.  While initially set up to train only Togolese officers, 
since 1998 EFOFAT has expanded its officer candidate corps to 
include students from the sub-region, namely Benin, Burkina 
Faso, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Chad, CAR and Guinea-Conakry. 
Since its creation 150 students have graduated from the 
school.  While originally open only to male officer 
candidates, women have been admitted since 2006.  EFOFAT is 
primarily an Army school -- Air Force and Navy officer 
candidates generally seek admission to French military 
academies. (Note: Togolese officers are not required to 
attend EFOFAT and can instead elect to attend a regional 
African school or a French or German military academy. End 
Note.) 
 
¶4.  Students are recruited from amongst university graduates 
holding a two or four year degree (license or maitrise).  The 
average age for first year students is 22.  No prior military 
training is required, but many students are graduates of 
Togo's Military school (College Militaire Eyadema), located 
nearby in Tchitchao (reftel). Officer candidates must be 
single and childless.  The training program was recently 
reduced from three years to two years.  At graduation the 
students are given the rank of second lieutenant. (Note: The 
average military career in Togo lasts 35 years. End Note.) 
Following graduation, all new second lieutenants are required 
to attend a nine month practical training program (Ecole 
d'Application d'Infanterie Motorisee.)  This program gives 
the junior officers training and preparation for combat-type 
situations and gives them hands-on experience with heavy 
military equipment. 
 
¶5.  At graduation students are rank ordered by a combination 
score of academic and practical exercise grades.  The top 
ranked student is then asked to select his specialization 
(i.e., infantry unit, commando, heavy weapons, etc.) from the 
slots available.  The runner-up picks next and the process 
continues until all students have been placed. 
 
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A more international dimension and focus 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  EFOFAT is striving to be recognized as the regional 
military training academy for West Africa, but must compete 
with programs in Senegal (Thies) and Cote d'Ivoire (Bouake) 
for that status.  Today instruction is primarily dispensed by 
Togolese officers with the support of a few French 
instructors who are "advisors". The curriculum is evolving 
and is now largely geared towards making junior officers 
ready for PKOs and inculcating human rights principles.  In 
fact, regional military integration and collaboration are 
considered so important that President Faure has symbolically 
baptized the new class "African Union". 
 
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Graduation 
----------- 
 
¶7.  The eleventh class of EFOFAT officers graduated on July 
¶24.  While only twelve students actually graduated, seventeen 
had originally enrolled in August 2006, but four died in car 
accidents and one was dismissed as a result of his accident 
related injuries.  The twelfth class currently in training 
has 25 cadets including two women. (Note: Pol/Mil officer 
attended the graduation ceremony. End Note.) 
 
 
TWINING