History History

Prehistoric research is still in its infancy, but remains attest to Togo's ancestral past. Numerous lithic objects have been found (tools, millstones, grinders...), especially in the north of the country. Iron metallurgy sites have also been discovered in the Dapaong, Bassar and Tado sectors, not to mention the rock paintings discovered in the Namoudjoga mountains in Dapaong

The Bassar country is one of the most important centers of metallurgical production in West Africa. Remains of ancient furnaces and slag testify to this activity for several centuries

The Bassari, Tamberma and Kabiyè populated the mountainous regions until the arrival of outsiders who fled their countries when the Europeans arrived. In the meantime, the Portuguese landed on the Togolese coast. From the 16th century onwards, they practiced an active trade and the slave trade developed around the trading post of Petit-Popo (Aného) and then along the entire coast of the Gulf of Benin. The Danes and the Dutch in turn came to settle on the coast.

Following the suppression of the slave trade, the Danes, Portuguese and Dutch withdrew in favor of the British and French. The first German missionaries settled in Keta during the British occupation

Britain created the Gold Coast after defeating the Ashanti. The colonial administration increased customs taxes on alcohol and tobacco. Some merchants left the Gold Coast to avoid taxes and settled in Aflao and Baguida. British intervention in Aflao and Denu to stop the traffic

Trade ceased in Aflao and Denu, and was redeveloped in Bè, creating the city of Lomé and extending along the coast. Tensions arose between Great Britain and the nations from which these traders came. In Aného, it was particularly palpable with France. In August, the representative of Glidji signed a protectorate treaty with France. It was refused by the Lawson family (pro-English), which requested the protection of Great Britain. For their part, the German merchants, afraid of compromising their trade, appealed to the German Empire

Bismarck, the German chancellor, dispatched the corvette Sophie to Aného. Captain Stubenrauch dropped anchor in Aného at the end of January and asked the local authorities to renew the trade contract concluded with the German merchants in 1882. The contract was renewed by the representatives of Glidji, but not by King Lawson III. Returning from Lagos, the captain settled the matter by force and took the Lawson party leaders prisoner.

Lawson's opponents having requested German protection, Dr. Nachtigal went to Baguida where the German protectorate over Togo was signed. King Lawson agreed to sign the agreement two days later

A military doctor, he went to Algeria for health reasons (1863) and became the doctor of the bey of Tunis. At Rohlfs' request, he was charged with bringing the gifts of the King of Prussia to the Sultan of Bornou. He was the first European to visit Tibesti, Bornou and Ouadaï. In 1884, Gustav Nachtigal was charged with proclaiming the German protectorate over the countries on the west coast of Africa not belonging to another European power, such as Togo, Cameroon and Lüderitz. He died at sea during his return. He left a great work, Sahara und Sudan (Berlin, 1879-1889, 3 volumes).

The German administration moved from Baguida to Aného. At the same time as setting up administrative services and means of communication, the German authorities entrusted the school policy to the Protestant missionaries of Bremen

The seat of the German government was transferred from Aného to Lomé. This was the beginning of the great works that have shaped the Togo of today. The Germans introduced coffee and cocoa crops in the Kpalimé region, built the wharf in Lomé, railroad lines, roads and hospitals. Togoland became a "model colony"

During World War I, French troops in Dahomey and British troops on the Gold Coast were ordered to retake Togo from the Germans. There was little resistance. The territory was then arbitrarily divided between the two powers.

France and Great Britain are entrusted with the former German colony under the mandate of the League of Nations. Very quickly, the British attached the territories under their mandate to the Gold Coast

Togo is under the supervision of the United Nations. The administrative powers are responsible for developing representative democratic bodies and organizing consultations to enable the Togolese people to freely choose their political system.

Following a referendum, British Togo decided to become part of the Gold Coast, which would become Ghana upon independence one year later. On the French side, political life was organized around the Committee for Togolese Unity (CUT), led by Sylvanus Olympio, who favored a reunified and autonomous state, and the Togolese Progress Party (MPT), led by Nicolas Grunitzky, who demanded the abolition of trusteeship and called for a closer association with France. He was then appointed Prime Minister. On September¹, France proclaimed the autonomous Republic of Togo, associated with France.

Under UN control, legislative elections were held and resulted in a reversal of the situation: the CUT won the election and Sylvanus Olympio became president

Sylvanus Olympio rejected a proposal to annex Ghana and declared Togo independent. The country obtained a seat at the UN the same year.

On April 9, presidential and legislative elections were held, along with a constitutional referendum. In the complete absence of opponents, the party of Sylvanus Olympio won the elections handily, while a new constitution was adopted, establishing a semi-presidential regime. Tensions erupted in the northern regions

Military coup. Sylvanus Olympio was assassinated, and Nicolas Grunitzky took over the country. He adopted a new constitution and signed "cooperation agreements" with France.

New coup d'état. The military regained power, suspended the Constitution and dissolved the National Assembly.

Lieutenant Colonel Gnassingbé Eyadema established a new government and became President of the Republic.

Military and political man of Togo, he is the third president of the Republic. In power for nearly forty years, he is considered the father of the Togolese nation, despite his turbulent tenure. During the first ten years of his government, he attracted foreign investors, which ensured the development and prosperity of his country. The Togolese banking system became one of the most efficient on the continent, which earned Togo the nickname "Switzerland of Africa". In January 1980, he proclaimed the Third Republic, avoided a coup d'état and was re-elected until his death.

Creation of the Togolese People's Rally (RPT), which for years was the only party in the Togolese Republic

Period of calm and political consensus. The State instituted a policy of nationalization and agricultural promotion. Lomé is the headquarters of ECOWAS and becomes a real city of conferences and congresses.

Following a referendum, a new constitution was adopted. It was based on a head of state and the military, a single party (RPT) and a National Assembly elected by universal suffrage on a single list

After a moment of calm, the political and social climate in the country began to deteriorate. On September 24, an attempted coup was organized by a Ghanaian commando against the head of state. On December 16, General Gnassingbé Eyadema was re-elected

Tensions rose and unrest erupted in Lomé: outbreaks of violence and the reawakening of old ethnic grudges. To ease tensions, President Eyadema granted a multiparty system.

Student strike, demonstrations organized by the opposition, increasing number of incidents.

Opposition leaders secured an international conference. Joseph Koffigoh became Prime Minister of a transitional government, supported by the High Council of the Republic (HCR) to draft a new constitution

The army, composed mostly of Kabyè, occupied the radio and television stations. It went to Joseph Koffigoh's residence to force him to dissolve the HCR and to form a government of national unity with ministers from the RPT, the president's party. General Eyadema resumed his presidential powers

The new constitution was adopted by referendum. The opposition went on an unlimited general strike and organized multiple demonstrations that were bloodily repressed in January 1993.

Many Togolese fled to Ghana and Benin. On March 25, President Eyadema escaped a military coup. In August he was elected with 94.6 percent of the vote, following an opposition boycott

Legislative elections. Opposition victory. The Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) won 36 of the 81 seats, the RPT, the former single party, won 35, and the Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD) won 7 seats.

The president appointed one of the opposition leaders, Edem Kodjo, president of the UTD, to head the government.

In disagreement with the government over the organization of the legislative by-elections, the opposition party CAR suspended its participation in the work of the National Assembly.

Resignation of Edem Kodjo. Legislative by-elections were organized and won with a majority by the RPT

Presidential elections. General Eyadema won against the opposition candidate, Gilchrist Olympio

Outgoing President Eyadema ran for a third time in the presidential election. He was re-elected for a five-year term.

Gnassingbé Eyadema died of a heart attack at the age of 69, after having governed Togo for thirty-eight years, one of the longest governments in Africa

Presidential elections in a tense climate. Faure Gnassingbé, son of the late president, won the election with 60% of the vote. Many Togolese fled to Benin and Ghana.

An attempted coup against President Faure Gnassingbé, the main accused is his half-brother Kpatcha Gnassingbé, former Minister of Defense and member of the National Assembly. This event brings to light the family rift left by the death of the father Gnassingbé Eyadema. Tried at the Supreme Court of Lomé in September of the same year, Kpatcha was sentenced to twenty years in prison

Presidential elections. Faure Gnassingbé was re-elected with 60.92% of the vote. The turnout was over 75%

Period of major works. The coastal region and some of the country's inland routes are living at the pace of the work launched by the government, ranging from the capital's roads to the Lomé-Cotonou international road, as well as the expansion of the airport and the autonomous port. The French company Bolloré is one of the main partners in the rehabilitation of the port, while the Lomé airport project is being carried out in collaboration with the China Exim Bank.

Legislative elections were held, resulting in the formation of a new parliament, made up of four of the country's political parties, namely the presidential party UNIR with 62 seats, the Collectif Sauvons le Togo with 19 seats, the Coalition arc-en-ciel with 6 seats, the UFC with 3 seats, and finally the Sursaut national with 1 seat.

Faure Gnassingbé Essozimna's re-election, under a political communication campaign based on his first name, thus reinforcing his character and omitting his family name, which recalls the Eyadema period. Political slogans are well crafted: "Be Faure", "Stay Faure, vote Faure".

The government is presenting to parliament a draft reform of the constitution modifying the voting system for presidential elections and limiting the number of terms to two. It also provides for the non-retroactivity of the number of terms, which would allow Faure Gnassingbé to run in 2020 and 2025. With a three-fifths majority having been reached, the bill can be submitted to a referendum. But the numerous demonstrations in the streets are pushing the government to stall.

Legislative elections. The C14 Alliance, the main opposition force, boycotted the election, denouncing irregularities in the preparation. Unir, the ruling party, won the election with 59 of the 91 seats. This victory was seen as a setback for the ruling party, which no longer had the majority in parliament needed for constitutional reform.

The government succeeded in obtaining near-unanimous support for a constitutional revision, which allowed Faure Gnassingbé to run for office until 2030.

Presidential elections. Faure Gnassingbé was re-elected in the first round with over 70% of the vote. His main opponent was his former Prime Minister, Agbéyomé Kodjo, who received 18.37% of the vote.