Dr. Sena Alouka may he be remembered for his contribution to sustainable development and mentoring the next generation

From the Togo Times

 "It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we regret to announce the passing of our Executive Director, Dr. Sena Alouka," reads the statement signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of JVE. Mr. Alouka passed away in Créteil, France, on August 31, 2026.

In its statement, the PCA says that "this sudden loss plunges our entire organization into immense sadness," and offers sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and colleagues.

Felix Dodds:

My memories of Sena go back to a workshop the Stakeholder Forum organized for West African stakeholders in Togo in 2001. 

It was, I think, the only workshop in the region, and the Togo team, which included Sena, did an amazing job working with the government and stakeholders coming from the region to facilitate the workshop. 

He and I attended many meetings in the 2000s leading up to Rio+20; he was always positive, trying to persuade not just his government, but others to make the extra effort to make the right decisions to secure a pathway to a more sustainable planet.  

In the run-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, he founded the  JVE (Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement), which translates to Young Volunteers for the Environment. There, he was mentoring the next generation of African environmental defenders and policymakers.

Our paths didn't cross again until I started to attend the Bonn preparatory sessions for COPs again in 2022. By then, he was active with the Alliance for Food Sovereignty, where he chaired the Climate and Agroecology Working Group.

He and I had started to work up another West African proposal for preparing for the run-up to the 2027 review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ultimately the 2030 process for what might be the next stage for the Sustainable Development Goals. 

I was very much looking forward to seeing that project become a reality with him.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I hope they know he had a very positive impact on policy development and on mentoring the next generation of African leaders. 

We all will have to redouble our efforts to make up for the gap his passing will leave. We should find time to remember him and celebrate his contribution to sustainable development.

I am reminded this morning of the Shakespeare quote from Romeo and Juliet

"Take him and cut him out in little stars,

And he will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with night 

And pay no worship to the garish sun."