Editing Togo (section)

== Government ==
{{Main|Politics of Togo}}
[[File:Sylvanus Olympio.jpg|thumb|[[Sylvanus Olympio]], the first president of Togo from 1960 to 1963]]
[[File:President Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Republic of Togo, West Africa.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]], the third and longest-serving president from 1967 until his death in 2005.]]
The president is indirectly  elected for a double term of four years, and is the commander-in-chief of the [[Togolese Armed Forces|armed forces]] and has the right to initiate legislation and dissolve [[parliament]]. Executive power is exercised by the [[Council of Ministers of Togo|council of ministers]] and it's [[President of the Council of Ministers of Togo|president]] which is the head of government and is also a position that was formerly known as the [[prime minister]]. The president appoints the president of the Council of Ministers.

President [[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]], who until 1993, ruled Togo under a one-party system, died of a heart attack on 5 February 2005. Under the Togolese Constitution, the President of the Parliament, [[Fambaré Ouattara Natchaba]], should have become president of the country, pending a presidential election to be called within 60 days. Natchaba was out of the country, returning on an Air France plane from Paris.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news | title = Togo: Africa's democratic test case | work = BBC News | date = 11 February 2005 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4243477.stm | access-date = 15 November 2011 | archive-date = 2 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190402161341/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4243477.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> The Togolese army, known as Forces Armées Togolaises (FAT), or [[Togolese Armed Forces]], closed the nation's borders, forcing the plane to land in Benin. With an engineered power vacuum, the Parliament voted to remove the constitutional clause that would have required an election within 60 days and declared that Eyadema's son, [[Faure Gnassingbé]], would inherit the presidency and hold office for the rest of his father's term.<ref name="BBC News"/> Faure was sworn in on 7 February 2005, with international criticism of the succession.<ref>{{cite news | title = Togo leader sworn in amid protest | work = BBC News | date = 7 February 2005 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4243629.stm | access-date = 15 November 2011 | archive-date = 2 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190402202623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4243629.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> The African Union described the takeover as a military [[coup d'état]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4241001.stm |title=Togo succession 'coup' denounced |work=BBC News |date=6 February 2005 |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327210443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4241001.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> International pressure also came from the [[United Nations]]. Within Togo, opposition to the takeover [[2005 Togo protests and riots|culminated in riots]] in which between 400 and 500 people died.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/500-killed-in-togo-electoral-violence-un-254481 |title=500 killed in Togo electoral violence – UN |work=[[Independent Online (South Africa)|Independent Online]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |date=26 September 2005 |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217053210/https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/500-killed-in-togo-electoral-violence-un-254481 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were uprisings in cities and towns mainly in the southern part of the country. In the town of [[Aného]] reports of a general civilian uprising followed by a massacre by government troops. In response, [[Faure Gnassingbé]] agreed to hold [[Togo presidential election, 2005|elections]] and on 25 February, Gnassingbé resigned as president, and afterward accepted the nomination to run for the office in April.<ref name="Ebow Godwin">{{cite web |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/02/25/international/i180735S60.DTL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106033758/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2005%2F02%2F25%2Finternational%2Fi180735S60.DTL |archive-date=6 January 2006 |title=Togo Leader to Step Down, Seek Presidency |publisher=Associated Press (via SF Gate) |author=Godwin, Ebow |date=8 June 2010 |access-date=27 June 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 24 April 2005, Gnassingbé was elected president of Togo, receiving over 60% of the vote according to official results. His main rival in the race had been [[Emmanuel Bob-Akitani]] from the [[Union des Forces du Changement]] (UFC). Electoral fraud was suspected due to a lack of independent domestic or foreign oversight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scidev.net/gateways/index.cfm?fuseaction=readitem&rgwid=4&item=Opinions&itemid=401&language=1 |title=Technological shutdowns as tools of oppression |publisher=SciDev.net |date=20 June 2005 |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-date=29 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029123632/http://www.scidev.net/en/sub-suharan-africa/opinions/technological-shutdowns-as-tools-of-oppression.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Parliament designated Deputy President, [[Bonfoh Abbass]], as interim president until the inauguration.<ref name="Ebow Godwin"/> On 3 May 2005, [[Faure Gnassingbé]] was sworn in as the new president and the European Union suspended aid to Togo in support of the opposition claims, unlike the African Union and the United States which declared the vote "reasonably fair". The Nigerian president and Chair of AU, [[Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ]], sought to negotiate between the incumbent government and the opposition to establish a coalition government, and rejected an AU Commission appointment of former [[Zambia]]n president, [[Kenneth Kaunda]], as special AU envoy to Togo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200506060694.html |title=Togo: African Union in Row Over Appointment of Special Envoy |access-date=2005-11-27 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926213044/http://allafrica.com/stories/200506060694.html |archive-date=26 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}. AllAfrica.com. 6 June 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200507040093.html |title=Togo: African Union in Row Over Appointment of Special Envoy |access-date=2005-11-27 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926213101/http://allafrica.com/stories/200507040093.html |archive-date=26 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}. AllAfrica.com</ref> In June, President Gnassingbé named opposition leader [[Edem Kodjo]] as the prime minister.

In October 2007, after postponements, elections were held under proportional representation. This allowed the less populated north to seat as many MPs as the more populated south.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlotti |first=Marie-Arlette |title=Delegation for the Observation of the Parliamentary Election in Togo |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/212684/Election_report_Togo_14_October_2007.pdf |access-date=February 26, 2024 |page=3 |agency=European Parliament |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224005607/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/212684/Election_report_Togo_14_October_2007.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The president-backed party [[Rally of the Togolese People]] (RPT) won a majority with UFC coming second and the other parties claiming inconsequential representation. Vote rigging accusations were levelled at RPT supported by the civil and military security apparatus. With the presence of an EU observer mission, cancelled ballots and illegal voting took place, the majority of which in RPT strongholds. On 3 December 2007 [[Komlan Mally]] of RPT was appointed to prime minister succeeding Agboyibor. On 5 September 2008, Mally resigned as prime minister of Togo.

[[Faure Gnassingbé]] won re-election in the March 2010 presidential election, taking 61% of the vote against [[Jean-Pierre Fabre]] from UFC, who had been backed by an opposition coalition called FRAC (Republican Front for Change).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/togos-president-reelected-electoral-agency-20100307-pq0l.html |title=Togo's president re-elected: electoral agency |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 March 2010 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> Electoral observers noted "procedural errors" and technical problems, and the opposition did not recognize the results, claiming irregularities had affected the outcome.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8554145.stm |title=Togo opposition vows to challenge election result |publisher=BBC |date=7 March 2010 |access-date=16 November 2011 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011020323/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8554145.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-togo-idUSTRE62520G20100306 |title=Togo leader Gnassingbe re-elected in disputed poll |work=Reuters |date=6 March 2010 |access-date=16 November 2011 |archive-date=7 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113350/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-togo-idUSTRE62520G20100306 |url-status=live }}</ref> Periodic [[protests against Faure Gnassingbé]] followed the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201004120240.html |title=Togo: 4,000 demonstrators protest Togo election results |publisher=AllAfrica.com |date=11 April 2010 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> In May 2010, opposition leader [[Gilchrist Olympio]] announced that he would enter into a power-sharing deal with the government, a coalition arrangement which provides UFC with eight ministerial posts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10177087 |title=Togo opposition 'to join coalition government' |publisher=BBC |date=27 May 2010 |access-date=16 November 2011 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403150839/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10177087 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14107024 |title=Togo profile |publisher=BBC |date=11 July 2011 |access-date=16 November 2011 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404205237/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14107024 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2012, electoral reforms prompted protesters to take to the street in Lomé for days; protesters sought a return to the 1992 constitution that would re-establish presidential term limits.<ref name="BBC20120614">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18439872 |title=Togo protest: Lome rocked by electoral reform unrest |publisher=BBC |date=14 June 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404183708/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18439872 |url-status=live }}</ref> July 2012 saw the resignation of the prime minister, Gilbert Houngbo.<ref name="Reuters20120712">{{cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE86B03R20120712 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715055119/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE86B03R20120712 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Togo PM, govt quit to widen leadership before vote |work=Reuters |date=12 July 2012 |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref> Days later, the commerce minister, Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu, was named to lead the new government. In the same month, the home of opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre was raided by security forces, and thousands of protesters again rallied publicly against the government crackdown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Huge-rally-in-Togo-20120722 |title=Huge rally in Togo |publisher=news24.com |date=22 July 2012 |access-date=27 July 2012 |archive-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725001146/http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Huge-rally-in-Togo-20120722 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2015, President Faure Gnassingbé was re-elected for a third term.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32512615|title = Togo's Faure Gnassingbe wins third term as president|work = BBC News|date = 29 April 2015|access-date = 19 May 2021|archive-date = 19 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210519065908/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32512615|url-status = live}}</ref> In February 2020, Faure Gnassingbé was again re-elected for his fourth presidential term. The opposition had accusations of fraud and irregularities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/togo-president-gnassingb%C3%A9-wins-re-election/a-52494760|title=Togo President Gnassingbé wins re-election &#124; DW &#124; 24.02.2020|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=31 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231132047/https://www.dw.com/en/togo-president-gnassingb%C3%A9-wins-re-election/a-52494760|url-status=live}}</ref> The Gnassingbé family has ruled Togo since 1967, meaning it is Africa's longest lasting dynasty.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/africa/togos-dynasty-lives-on-4111/ |title=Togo's dynasty lives on |work=IPS |date=28 February 2020 |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207192212/https://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/africa/togos-dynasty-lives-on-4111/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2024 constitutional reform ===
In March 2024, President Faure Gnassingbé presented a new constitution. One of the constitutional changes in the new constitution has Togo go from being under a [[presidential system]] to being under a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary one]], as well as weakening the power of the president, it becoming a mostly ceremonial role, strengthening the power of parliament, and strengthening the power of the prime minister and renaming the office "President of the Council of Ministers" ({{lang|fr|[[French language|French]]: Président du Conseil des Ministres}}). The term of the new office will be six years, renewable indefinitely, whereas the term of the president is lowered to four from the previous five, renewable once. In April 2024, the Togolese parliament voted in favour of the new constitution and the new constitution was officially adopted on 6 May 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/togo-has-adopted-major-constitutional-changes-to-give-parliament-more-power-how-it-will-work-228944|title=Togo has adopted major constitutional changes to give parliament more power: how it will work|work=The Conversation|date=1 May 2024}}</ref>

The reform officially came into effect on 3 May 2025, where the first indirect election of the country was held where [[Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové]] was uninamously elected as the new president. Aged nearly 86, Savi de Tové is the oldest ever president in history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202505/04/WS6816c484a310a04af22bd6af.html|title=Togo elects new president|work=Xinhua News|date=4 May 2025}}</ref> Faure Gnassingbé was then sworn in as the president of the Council of Ministers and thus, remained in charge of the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20250503-longtime-togo-leader-gnassingbe-consolidates-grip-on-power-with-title-swap|title=Longtime Togo leader Gnassingbe consolidates grip on power with title swap|work=France 24|date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Togo|Prefectures of Togo}}
[[File:Togo-karte-politisch.png|thumb|Map of Togo featuring the country's five regions and their capitals]]

Togo is divided into 5 regions which are subdivided in turn into 39 [[prefecture]]s. From north to south the regions are [[Savanes Region, Togo|Savanes]], [[Kara Region|Kara]], [[Centrale Region, Togo|Centrale]], [[Plateaux Region, Togo|Plateaux]] and [[Maritime Region|Maritime]].

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Togo}}

While Togo's foreign policy is nonaligned, it has historical and cultural ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo recognizes the People's Republic of China, [[North Korea]], and [[Cuba]]. It re-established relations with Israel in 1987. Togo pursues an active foreign policy and participates in international organizations. It is particularly active in [[West Africa]]n regional affairs and in the [[African Union]].

In 2017, Togo signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=18 May 2024 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref> Togo joined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], along with [[Gabon]], at the [[2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] in [[Kigali]], Rwanda.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Camilla |date=2022-06-22 |title=Togo and Gabon to become newest members of Commonwealth this week |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/06/22/togo-gabon-become-newest-members-commonwealth-week/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627070129/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/06/22/togo-gabon-become-newest-members-commonwealth-week/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In joining the Commonwealth, Foreign Minister [[Robert Dussey]] told [[Reuters]]'','' the country sought to expand its "diplomatic, political and economic network" and to "forge closer ties with the [[English-speaking world|anglophone world]]."<ref name=":2" />

=== Military ===
{{Main|Togolese Armed Forces}}

FAT ({{lang|fr|Forces armées togolaises}}, "Togolese armed forces"), consists of the army, navy, air force, and [[gendarmerie]]. Total military expenditures during the [[fiscal year]] of 2005 totalled 1.6% of the country's [[GDP]].<ref name="cia"/> Military bases exist in [[Lomé]], Temedja, [[Kara, Togo|Kara]], [[Niamtougou]], and [[Dapaong]].<ref name="fat_organisation">{{cite web|url=http://forcesarmees.tg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=33|title=Organisation des Forces Armées|publisher=www.forcesarmees.tg|access-date=15 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316193353/http://forcesarmees.tg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=33|archive-date=16 March 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The current Chief of the [[Staff (military)|General Staff]] is Brigadier General Titikpina Atcha Mohamed, who took office on 19 May 2009.<ref name="fat_tetedefat">{{cite web|url=http://forcesarmees.tg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100|title=Un Nouveau Chef à la Tête des FAT|publisher=www.forcesarmees.tg|access-date=16 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816140008/http://forcesarmees.tg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100|archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The air force is equipped with [[Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet|Alpha jets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27460%3Atogolese-air-force-acquires-cn235&catid=35%3AAerospace&Itemid=107|title=Togolese Air Force acquires CN235|publisher=defenceweb.co.za|access-date=5 July 2015|date=29 August 2012|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518180153/https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/togolese-air-force-acquires-cn235/?catid=35%3AAerospace&Itemid=107|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Togo}}
Togo was labelled "Not Free" by [[Freedom House]] from 1972 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2006, and has been categorized as "Partly Free" from 1999 to 2001 and from 2007. According to a [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] report based on conditions in 2010, human rights problems include "security force use of excessive force, including [[torture]], which resulted in deaths and injuries; official impunity; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrests and detention; lengthy pretrial detention; executive influence over the judiciary; infringement of citizens' privacy rights; restrictions on [[freedom of the press|freedoms of press]], [[Freedom of Assembly|assembly]], and movement; official corruption; discrimination and violence against women; child abuse, including [[female genital mutilation]] (FGM), and sexual exploitation of children; regional and ethnic discrimination; trafficking in persons, especially women and children; societal discrimination against persons with disabilities; official and societal discrimination against homosexual persons; societal discrimination against persons with [[Human immunodeficiency virus|HIV]]; and forced labour, including by children."<ref name="2010 Human Rights Report: Togo">{{cite web|title=2010 Human Rights Report: Togo|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154374.htm|work=US Department of State|access-date=January 11, 2013|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017055530/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154374.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Togo,<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Avery |title=71 Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal |url=https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974 |work=Newsweek |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=18 May 2024 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211204842/https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974 |url-status=live }}</ref> with a penalty of one to three years imprisonment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf |title=State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same-sex activity between consenting adults |last=Itaborahy |first=Lucas Paoli |date=May 2013 |publisher=The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association |access-date=3 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717085454/http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2013 }}</ref>