Lomé Container Terminal (LCT) is a nationally incorporated company operating in the Gulf of Guinea. In December 2008, the Government of Togo awarded the company a 35-year concession—with an optional 10-year extension—to develop, construct, and operate a container cargo terminal within the Port of Lomé. In 2011, IFC provided a total of €82.5 million in loans to LCT and mobilized approximately €142.5 million from other lenders. Construction works started in 2012, and the terminal has been operational since October 2014. In 2015, IFC provided LCT with additional financing of €10 million. IFC’s loans to LCT were fully repaid on December 15, 2023, ending the financial relationship.  

In February 2018, CAO received a complaint submitted by Mouvement Martin Luther King – La voix des sans voix, a civil society organization representing a group of former market gardeners, women sand collectors, the sand loaders, caterers, and lashing-men who claim to be negatively impacted by the project. The complaint cites concerns regarding LCT’s non-compliance with commitments under the project’s Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), particularly in relation to the treatment of affected market gardeners and sand miners. The complainants allege that the RAP’s implementation did not align with IFC’s Performance Standards. frameworks of the World Bank Group or applicable national and international legal standards, including the Togolese Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The complaint also raises concerns about impoverishment of surrounding communities, environmental pollution, health impacts on “marine sand drippers” formerly working on-site, and labor issues related to hiring practices, dismissals, and wages of personnel involved in lashing operations (“Lashing-men”).

In March 2018, CAO found the complaint eligible and began an assessment of the case. During the assessment, the complainants and the company agreed to engage in a CAO-led voluntary dialogue process to address the issues raised in the complaint. The Assessment Report is available in English and French.

In March 2023, while negotiations on a potential draft agreement were ongoing, some complainants withdrew from the mediation process due to internal conflicts amongst them. The remaining complainants continued their engagement and expressed willingness to reach an agreement with LCT. As the complainants who withdrew did not express interested in initiating a CAO compliance process, their complaint was closed. The mediation process between the company and the remaining complainants proceeded.

In October 2023, CAO facilitated a joint meeting between the remaining complainants and the company, during which the parties reached an agreement. The parties opted to keep the details of the agreement confidential. In accordance with the CAO policy, the case then moved to dispute resolution monitoring. Until 2025, CAO monitored the implementation of the agreement.

In August 2024 and March 2025, CAO conducted two monitoring missions to assess progress. During these missions, the parties confirmed their mutual satisfaction with the implementation of the mediation agreement.

In May 2025, CAO closed the case and convened a closing ceremony in Togo to mark its conclusion. The Dispute Resolution Conclusion Report is available in English and French.