Until the 19th century, the coastal region was a major slave trade centre, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany claimed a coastal protectorate, which grew inland until it became the German colony of Togoland in 1905.
For the next 200 years, the coastal region was a major trading center for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". ==Colonial rule== ===German Togoland=== The German Empire established the protectorate of Togoland (in what is now the nation of Togo and most of what is now the Volta Region of Ghana) in 1884 during the period generally known as the "Scramble for Africa".
France, at the time controller of neighboring Benin, recognized German rule in the region on 24 December 1885. The colony was established in part of what was then the Slave Coast and German control was gradually extended inland.
Until the 19th century, the coastal region was a major slave trade centre, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany claimed a coastal protectorate, which grew inland until it became the German colony of Togoland in 1905.
Because it became Germany's only self-supporting colony and because of its extensive rail and road infrastructure—Germany had opened Togo's first rail line between Lomé and Aného in 1905—Togoland was known as its model possession. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 the colony was drawn into the conflict.
Because it became Germany's only self-supporting colony and because of its extensive rail and road infrastructure—Germany had opened Togo's first rail line between Lomé and Aného in 1905—Togoland was known as its model possession. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 the colony was drawn into the conflict.
In 1916 the territory was divided into separate British and French administrative zones, and this was formalized in 1922 with the creation of British Togoland and French Togoland. ===League of Nations mandates=== On August 8, 1914, French and British forces invaded Togoland and the German forces there surrendered on 26 August.
In 1916 the territory was divided into separate British and French administrative zones, and this was formalized in 1922 with the creation of British Togoland and French Togoland. ===League of Nations mandates=== On August 8, 1914, French and British forces invaded Togoland and the German forces there surrendered on 26 August.
In 1916, Togoland was divided into French and British administrative zones.
Lome was initially allocated to the British zone but after negotiations transferred to France 1 October 1920. After World War II, the mandate became a UN trust territory administered by the United Kingdom and France.
In 1922, Great Britain received the League of Nations mandate to govern the western part of Togo and France to govern the eastern part.
In 1916 the territory was divided into separate British and French administrative zones, and this was formalized in 1922 with the creation of British Togoland and French Togoland. ===League of Nations mandates=== On August 8, 1914, French and British forces invaded Togoland and the German forces there surrendered on 26 August.
Rivalries between elements of these parties had begun as early as the 1940s, and they came to a head with Olympio dissolving the opposition parties in January 1962 because of alleged plots against the majority party government.
In December 1956, the residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new independent nation of Ghana. In the Representative Assembly elections in 1946, there were two parties, the Committee of Togolese Unity (CUT) and the Togolese Party of Progress (PTP).
However, the CUT was defeated in the 1951 Representative Assembly elections and the 1952 Territorial Assembly elections, and refused to participate in further French supervised elections because it claimed that the PTP was receiving French support.
However, the CUT was defeated in the 1951 Representative Assembly elections and the 1952 Territorial Assembly elections, and refused to participate in further French supervised elections because it claimed that the PTP was receiving French support.
By statute in 1955, French Togoland became an autonomous republic within the French union, although it retained its UN trusteeship status.
Following elections to the Territorial Assembly on 12 June 1955, which were boycotted by CUT, considerable power over internal affairs was granted, with an elected executive body headed by a Prime Minister responsible to the legislature.
In December 1956, the residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new independent nation of Ghana. In the Representative Assembly elections in 1946, there were two parties, the Committee of Togolese Unity (CUT) and the Togolese Party of Progress (PTP).
These changes were embodied in a constitution approved in a 1956 referendum.
On 10 September 1956, Nicolas Grunitzky became Prime Minister of the Republic of Togo.
The residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new independent nation of Ghana in 1957. French Togoland became the Togolese Republic in 1960.
However, due to irregularities in the plebiscite, a UN-supervised parliamentary election was held on 27 April 1958, the first held in Togo with universal suffrage, which was won by the opposition pro-independence CUT and its leader Sylvanus Olympio, who became Prime Minister.
On 13 October 1958 the French government announced that full independence would be granted.
On 14 November 1958 the United Nations’ General Assembly took note of the French government's declaration according to which Togo which was under French administration would gain independence in 1960, thus marking an end to the trusteeship period.
The residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new independent nation of Ghana in 1957. French Togoland became the Togolese Republic in 1960.
On 14 November 1958 the United Nations’ General Assembly took note of the French government's declaration according to which Togo which was under French administration would gain independence in 1960, thus marking an end to the trusteeship period.
Its Constitution, adopted in 1961, instituted the National Assembly of Togo as the supreme legislative body.
Rivalries between elements of these parties had begun as early as the 1940s, and they came to a head with Olympio dissolving the opposition parties in January 1962 because of alleged plots against the majority party government.
When he was assassinated in a coup in 1963, the military handed over power to an interim government led by Nicolas Grunitzky. The military leader Gnassingbé Eyadéma overthrew Grunitzky in a bloodless coup in 1967.
Many opposition members, including Grunitzky and Meatchi, were jailed or fled to avoid arrest. On 13 January 1963 Olympio was overthrown and killed in a coup d'état led by army non-commissioned officers dissatisfied with conditions following their discharge from the French army.
On 5 May 1963, the Togolese adopted a new constitution by referendum, which reinstated a multi-party system.
On 21 November 1966, an attempt to overthrow Grunitzky, inspired principally by civilian political opponents in the UT party, was unsuccessful.
When he was assassinated in a coup in 1963, the military handed over power to an interim government led by Nicolas Grunitzky. The military leader Gnassingbé Eyadéma overthrew Grunitzky in a bloodless coup in 1967.
Grunitzky then tried to lessen his reliance on the army, but on 13 January 1967, a coup led by Lt.
Gnassingbé family has ruled Togo since 1967, meaning it is Africa’s longest lasting dynasty. ==See also== History of Africa History of West Africa List of heads of government of Togo List of heads of state of Togo Politics of Togo Lomé history and timeline ==References== ==Sources== Most of the information here is derived from the U.S.
He assumed the presidency and introduced a one-party system in 1969.
In late 1969, a single national political party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), was created, and President Eyadéma was elected party president on 29 November 1969.
In 1972, a referendum, in which Eyadéma ran unopposed, confirmed his role as the country's president. ==Eyadéma's rule== ===The third republic=== In late 1979, Eyadéma declared a third republic and a transition to greater civilian rule with a mixed civilian and military cabinet.
In 1972, a referendum, in which Eyadéma ran unopposed, confirmed his role as the country's president. ==Eyadéma's rule== ===The third republic=== In late 1979, Eyadéma declared a third republic and a transition to greater civilian rule with a mixed civilian and military cabinet.
He garnered 99.97% of the vote in uncontested presidential elections held in late 1979 and early 1980.
He garnered 99.97% of the vote in uncontested presidential elections held in late 1979 and early 1980.
Eyadéma was reelected to a third consecutive 7-year term in December 1986 with 99.5% of the vote in an uncontested election.
On 23 September 1986, a group of some 70 armed Togolese dissidents crossed into Lomé from Ghana in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Eyadéma government. ===Opposition=== In 1989 and 1990, Togo, like many other countries, was affected by the winds of democratic change sweeping Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
On 23 September 1986, a group of some 70 armed Togolese dissidents crossed into Lomé from Ghana in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Eyadéma government. ===Opposition=== In 1989 and 1990, Togo, like many other countries, was affected by the winds of democratic change sweeping Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
On 23 September 1986, a group of some 70 armed Togolese dissidents crossed into Lomé from Ghana in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Eyadéma government. ===Opposition=== In 1989 and 1990, Togo, like many other countries, was affected by the winds of democratic change sweeping Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
On 5 October 1990, the trial of students who handed out antigovernment tracts sparked riots in Lomé.
In April 1991, the government began negotiations with newly formed opposition groups and agreed to a general amnesty that permitted exiled political opponents to return to Togo.
Following a vote by the transitional legislature (High Council of the Republic) to dissolve the President's political party—the RPT—in November 1991, the army attacked the prime minister's office on 3 December and captured the prime minister.
On 27 September, the public overwhelmingly approved the text of a new, democratic constitution, formally initiating Togo's fourth republic. ===Powerless legislature and political violence=== The democratic process was set back in October 1991, when elements of the army held the interim legislature hostage for 24 hours.
Koffigoh then formed a second transition government in January 1992 with substantial participation by ministers from the President's party.
Opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio, son of the slain president Sylvanus Olympio, was ambushed and seriously wounded apparently by soldiers on 5 May 1992. In July and August 1992, a commission composed of presidential and opposition representatives negotiated a new political agreement.
A further amendment stated that candidates must reside in the country for at least 12 months before an election, a provision that barred the participation in the upcoming presidential election of popular Union des Forces du Progrès (UFC) candidate, Gilchrist Olympio, who had been in exile since 1992.
The general strike largely shut down Lomé for months and resulted in severe damage to the economy. In January 1993, President Eyadéma declared the transition at an end and reappointed Koffigoh as prime minister under Eyadéma's authority.
On 30 January 1993, elements of the military went on an 8-hour rampage throughout Lomé, firing indiscriminately and killing at least 12 people.
Although most had returned by early 1996, some still remain abroad. On 25 March 1993, armed Togolese dissident commandos based in Ghana attacked Lomé's main military camp and tried unsuccessfully to kill President Eyadéma.
They inflicted significant casualties, however, which set off lethal reprisals by the military against soldiers thought to be associated with the attackers. ===Negotiating with the opposition=== Under substantial domestic and foreign pressure and the burden of the general strike, the presidential faction entered negotiations with the opposition in early 1993.
Four rounds of talks led to the 11 July Ouagadougou agreement setting forth conditions for upcoming presidential and legislative elections and ending the general strike as of 3 August 1993.
About 36% of the voters went to the polls; the others boycotted. Ghana-based armed dissidents launched a new commando attack on military sites in Lomé in January 1994.
The government went ahead with legislative elections on 6 February and 20 February 1994.
In early 1995, the government made slow progress toward its goals, aided by the CAR's August 1995 decision to end a 9-month boycott of the National Assembly.
However, Kodjo was forced to reshuffle his government in late 1995, strengthening the representation by Eyadéma's RPT party, and he resigned in August 1996.
Although most had returned by early 1996, some still remain abroad. On 25 March 1993, armed Togolese dissident commandos based in Ghana attacked Lomé's main military camp and tried unsuccessfully to kill President Eyadéma.
However, Kodjo was forced to reshuffle his government in late 1995, strengthening the representation by Eyadéma's RPT party, and he resigned in August 1996.
Since then, Eyadéma has reemerged with a sure grip on power, controlling most aspects of government. In the June 1998 presidential election, the government prevented citizens from effectively exercising the right to vote.
The Interior Ministry declared Eyadéma the winner with 52% of the vote in the 1998 election; however, serious irregularities in the government's conduct of the election strongly favored the incumbent and appear to have affected the outcome materially.
The government and the state remained highly centralized: President Eyadéma's national government appointed the officials and controlled the budgets of all subnational government entities, including prefectures and municipalities, and influenced the selection of traditional chiefs. ===National Assembly elections=== The second multi-party legislative elections of Eyadéma's 33-year rule were held on 21 March 1999.
In June 1999, the RPT and opposition parties met in Paris, in the presence of facilitators representing France, Germany, the European Union, and La Francophonie (an international organization of French-speaking countries), to agree on security measures for formal negotiations in Lomé.
In July 1999, the government and the opposition began discussions, and on 29 July 1999, all sides signed an accord called the "Lomé Framework Agreement", which included a pledge by President Eyadéma that he would respect the constitution and not seek another term as president after his current one expires in 2003.
However, the March 2000 date passed without presidential action, and new legislative elections were ultimately rescheduled for October 2001.
However, the March 2000 date passed without presidential action, and new legislative elections were ultimately rescheduled for October 2001.
Because of funding problems and disagreements between the government and opposition, the elections were again delayed, this time until March 2002. In May 2002 the government scrapped CENI, blaming the opposition for its inability to function.
In December 2002, Eyadéma's government used this rubber-stamp parliament to amend Togo's constitution, allowing President Eyadéma to run for an “unlimited” number of terms.
In July 1999, the government and the opposition began discussions, and on 29 July 1999, all sides signed an accord called the "Lomé Framework Agreement", which included a pledge by President Eyadéma that he would respect the constitution and not seek another term as president after his current one expires in 2003.
When he died in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure Gnassingbé, as president.
President Eyadéma was re-elected with 57% of the votes, amid allegations of widespread vote rigging. == Death of Eyadéma and Gnassingbé's rise == President Eyadéma died on 5 February 2005 while on board an airplane en route to France for treatment for a heart attack.
Under international pressure from the African Union and the United Nations however, who both denounced the transfer of power from father to son as a coup, Gnassingbé was forced to step down on 25 February 2005, shortly after accepting the nomination to run for elections in April.
On 3 May 2005, Gnassingbé was sworn in and vowed to concentrate on "the promotion of development, the common good, peace and national unity". == Faure Gnassingbé in power (2005-present) == In August 2006 President Gnassingbe and members of the opposition signed the Global Political Agreement (GPA), bringing an end to the political crisis trigged by Gnassingbe Eyadema's death in February 2005 and the flawed and violent electoral process that followed.
On 3 May 2005, Gnassingbé was sworn in and vowed to concentrate on "the promotion of development, the common good, peace and national unity". == Faure Gnassingbé in power (2005-present) == In August 2006 President Gnassingbe and members of the opposition signed the Global Political Agreement (GPA), bringing an end to the political crisis trigged by Gnassingbe Eyadema's death in February 2005 and the flawed and violent electoral process that followed.
CAR opposition party leader and human rights lawyer Yawovi Agboyibo was appointed Prime Minister of the transitional government in September 2006.
The GPA provided for a transitional unity government whose primary purpose would be to prepare for benchmark legislative elections, originally scheduled for June 24, 2007.
The third opposition party, UFC, headed by Gilchrist Olympio, declined to join the government, but agreed to participate in the national electoral commission and the National Dialogue follow-up committee, chaired by Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore. Parliamentary elections took place on October 14, 2007.
Despite these assurances, the secretary-general of the opposition party Union of Forces for Change(UFC) initially stated that his party would not accept the election results. Mr Olympio stated that the election results did not properly represent the voters' will, pointing out that the UFC received nearly as many votes as the RPT, but that due to the way the electoral system was designed the UFC won far fewer seats. In April 2015, President Faure Gnassingbe was re-elected for a third term.
In late 2017, anti-government protests were suppressed by security forces. ==Pre-colonial== Little is known about the history of Togo before the late fifteenth century, when Portuguese explorers arrived, although there are signs of Ewe settlement for several centuries before their arrival.
In February 2020, Faure Gnassingbé was again re-elected for his fourth presidential term.
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