Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNDERSTAND TOGO
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Togo Today
In March 2010, president Faure Gnassingbé was re-elected for a second term. Unlike in
2005, the process was largely trouble free, but opposition parties claimed that these presid-
ential elections - Faure won 60% of the vote - were marred by serious irregularities. Polit-
ically, the situation has barely evolved in 30 years.
Economically, there are better perspectives. Severely damaged by two decades of politic-
al unrest, the economy is now picking up. International business and aid donors are return-
ing to Togo and Lomé's port infrastructure is expanding. Landlocked countries, such as Ni-
ger and Burkina Faso, increasingly use Lomé's port over that of Cotonou.
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History
The country was once on the fringes of several great empires and, when the Europeans ar-
rived in the 16th century, this power vacuum allowed the slave-traders to use Togo as a
conduit.
Following the abolition of slavery, Germany signed a treaty in Togoville with local king
Mlapa. Togoland, as the Germans called their colony, underwent considerable economic
development, but the Togolese didn't appreciate the Germans' brutal 'pacification' cam-
paigns. When the Germans surrendered at Kamina - the Allies' first victory in WWI - the
Togolese welcomed the British forces.
However, the League of Nations split Togoland between France and Britain - a contro-
versial move that divided the populous Ewe. Following a 1956 plebiscite, British Togoland
was incorporated into the Gold Coast (now Ghana). French Togoland gained full independ-
ence in 1960 under the country's first president, Sylvanus Olympio. But his presidency was
short-lived. Olympio, an Ewe from the south who appeared to disregard the interests of
northerners, was killed by Kabye soldiers in 1963. His replacement was then deposed by
Kabye sergeant Gnassingbé Eyadéma. The new leader established a cult personality and
became increasingly irrational following a 1974 assassination attempt.
