The small West African nation of Togo has a distinct political history featuring a 58-year Gnassingbé dynasty—including 20 years under the incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé—and a unique colonial history beginning with German rule from July 1884 to 1914, and Czechoslovakian and Danish colonization attempts following the First World War. The country is a key regional and international hub—with Port Lomé standing out as a leading West African port and Asky Airlines as the main pan-African airline serving West and Central Africa (with 40 per cent ownership from Ethiopian Airlines, alongside Ecobank, BIDC and BOAD). 

However, the country has recently entered a period of domestic and regional flux. On 3 May 2025, Togo fully entered its Fifth Republic, with Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé being sworn in as head of state under the new position of head of council of ministers. This transition to the Fifth Republic began a year earlier with constitutional reform on 6 May 2024, converting the presidential administration to a parliamentary government and changing the presidential position to a largely ceremonial one. Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové—an 86-year-old veteran—was unanimously elected president on 3 May 2025—empowered with merely promoting national unity—while Gnassingbé retains executive control under a new title with no term limit. 

The amendments have been labelled an ‘institutional’ or ‘constitutional coup’ intended to extend the dominance of the Gnassingbé dynasty, which has been in power since 1967, beginning with Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled for nearly 37 years. Authoritarian inclinations, lack of transparency, electoral fraud and patronage structures have been the norm under both administrations, while the unstable regime has systemically suppressed dissent through a slew of human rights violations.  

Togo’s recent youth-led rallies, triggered by these constitutional reforms, reflect significant grievances and discontent, but have been greeted with a harsh response from security forces, including tear gas and live ammunition, resulting in many deaths, injuries and arrests. The ‘Hands Off My Constitution’ alliance of civic groups and opposition politicians have called for additional rallies, driven by a desire for change and a rejection of the existing quo. The recent increase in costs, particularly energy, has further aggravated grievances. Despite its rich cultural heritage and natural resources, Togo remains one of the poorest countries in Africa, with a staggering 56 per cent of its population living below the international poverty line and only 66.5 per cent of the population able to read and write. Although the African Development Bank (AfDB) and others expect Togo’s GDP to expand 5–6 per cent in the coming years, due in part to agricultural, industrial and service sector advances—extreme poverty and inequality undercut this expansion.