Since gaining independence in 1960, Togo has had four presidents, including Faure Gnassingbé, who is the current president.
Faure served briefly after his father, Gnassingbé Eyadema, died in February 2005 and then resumed office in May 2005.
Togo’s presidency was once a powerful position, with the president acting as both head of state and head of government. However, in April 2024, reforms reduced presidential powers, making the role more ceremonial.
The president remains the commander-in-chief and can appoint or dismiss the prime minister, but now the National Assembly elects the president instead of a direct vote by citizens.
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Complete List Of Presidents Of Togo Since Independence
No | Name | Tenure | Politician Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sylvanus Olympio | 27 April 1958 – 13 January 1963 | Committee for Unity and Progress (CUT) |
2 | Nicolas Grunitzky | 13 January 1963 – 13 January 1967 | Movement for the Progress of Togo (MPT) |
3 | Gnassingbé Eyadéma | 14 April 1967 – 5 February 2005 | Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) |
(Various terms: 1972, 1979, 1986, 1993, 1998, 2003) | |||
4 | Faure Gnassingbé | 5 February 2005 – 25 February 2005 (Acting) | RPT / Union for the Republic (UNIR) |
4 May 2005 – Present |
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Who Was Togo’s First President?
Togo’s first president was Sylvanus Olympio, a prominent figure in the country’s journey to independence. He served as president from 1960, when Togo gained its independence, until his tragic death in 1963.
Born on September 6, 1902, in Lomé, which was then part of a German colony, Olympio came from Afro-Brazilian roots.
His grandfather had moved from Brazil, and his father, a successful businessman, managed a major trading company. Olympio was one of 30 children and received his early education in Togoland.
After World War I, Togoland came under French control. Olympio later studied commerce at the London School of Economics.
Fluent in several languages, he returned to Togo and worked for the United Africa Company before entering politics. In 1946, he founded the Committee for Togolese Unity, an anti-colonial movement.
Despite facing challenges like arrests and political repression, he pushed for the rights of the Togolese people and sought to unite the Ewe people, who had been divided by colonial borders.
His efforts paid off when Togo gained independence in 1960, and he became president the following year. Olympio reduced reliance on foreign aid and focused on economic development.
However, his leadership style upset some groups, including educated elites and leaders from the northern part of Togo.
One of the most notable sources of tension was his decision not to include returning soldiers from foreign wars in Togo’s army.
On January 13, 1963, Olympio was assassinated during a military coup, becoming the first African leader to be killed in such a way.
His death was a turning point in Togo’s history and symbolized the struggles faced by newly independent African nations.
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Who Is The Current President Of Togo?
Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé is the current President of Togo. He has been in office since 2005, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the country’s history.
Faure is the fourth person to hold this position since Togo gained independence in 1960. His time as president has been a mix of economic changes, political challenges, and efforts to bring unity to the nation.
He has faced both support and criticism during his years in power. Faure was born on June 6, 1966, in Afagnan, Togo. He is the son of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo from 1967 until he died in 2005.
Faure’s mother is Séna Sabine Mensah. However, he started in Lomé, Togo’s capital, and later continued his studies in France. He graduated from the Université Paris-Dauphine with a degree in financial business management.
Then, he pursued an MBA at The George Washington University in the United States. Faure joined politics as a Deputy in Togo’s National Assembly in 2002.
In 2003, he was appointed Minister of Equipment, Mines, Posts, and Telecommunications. When his father passed away in February 2005, Faure was named president with military backing.
However, this move caused debate about whether it was constitutional. Due to international and local pressure, Faure temporarily stepped down and allowed an interim president to take over.
In April 2005, he won the presidential election, beginning his first term. Since then, Faure has won re-election several times, including in 2010, 2015, and 2020.
