{"id":9034,"date":"2021-12-24T04:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T12:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/?p=9034"},"modified":"2021-12-24T15:34:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-24T23:34:18","slug":"togo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/togo\/","title":{"rendered":"Togo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/h2>\n

Togo, officially the\u00a0Togolese Republic, is a country in\u00a0West Africa<\/a>. It is bordered by\u00a0Ghana<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0the west<\/a>,\u00a0Benin<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0the east<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Burkina Faso<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0the north<\/a>. <\/sup>The\u00a0country<\/a>\u00a0extends south to the\u00a0Gulf of Guinea<\/a>, where its\u00a0capital<\/a>\u00a0and largest city\u00a0Lom\u00e9<\/a> is located. Togo covers 57,000 square kilometres (22,008 square miles), making it one of the smallest countries in Africa, with a population of approximately 8 million, as well as one of the narrowest countries in the world with a width of less than 115\u00a0km (71\u00a0mi) between Ghana and its slightly larger eastern neighbor, Benin.<\/p>\n

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Togo on the Globe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading center for Europeans to purchase slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name “The\u00a0Slave Coast<\/a>“. In 1884,\u00a0Germany<\/a>\u00a0declared a region including present-day Togo as a protectorate called\u00a0Togoland<\/a>. After\u00a0World War I<\/a>, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960.\u00a0In 1967,\u00a0Gnassingb\u00e9 Eyad\u00e9ma<\/a> led a successful military coup d’\u00e9tat after which he became president of an anti-communist, single-party state. Eventually, in 1993, Eyad\u00e9ma faced multiparty elections, which were marred by irregularities, and he won the presidency three times. At the time of his death, Eyad\u00e9ma was the longest-serving leader in modern African history, having been president for 38 years.\u00a0In 2005, his son\u00a0Faure Gnassingb\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0was elected president. He continues to hold the office as of 2021.<\/p>\n

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Lom\u00e9 Togo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Togo is a\u00a0tropical<\/a>,\u00a0sub-Saharan<\/a> nation, whose economy depends highly on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. While the official language is French, many other languages are spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family<\/a>. The largest\u00a0religious group<\/a>\u00a0consists of those with indigenous beliefs, and there are significant\u00a0Christian<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Muslim<\/a> minorities.\u00a0Togo is a member of the\u00a0United Nations<\/a>,\u00a0African Union<\/a>,\u00a0Organisation of Islamic Cooperation<\/a>,\u00a0South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone<\/a>,\u00a0Francophonie<\/a>, and\u00a0Economic Community of West African States<\/a>.<\/p>\n

History:<\/h2>\n

Before Colonization (pre-1884):<\/span><\/h3>\n

Archaeological finds indicate that ancient tribes were able to produce\u00a0pottery<\/a>\u00a0and process\u00a0iron<\/a>. The name Togo is translated from the\u00a0Ewe language<\/a>\u00a0as “behind the river”. Not much is known of the period before arrival of the\u00a0Portuguese<\/a>\u00a0in 1490. During the period from the 11th century to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions: the\u00a0Ew\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0from the west, and the\u00a0Mina<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Gun<\/a>\u00a0from the east. Most of them settled in coastal areas.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0slave trade<\/a> began in the 16th century, and for the next two hundred years the coastal region was a major trading center for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name “The\u00a0Slave Coast<\/a>“.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Colonial Era (1884\u20131960):<\/span><\/h3>\n
In 1884, a paper was signed at\u00a0Togoville<\/a>\u00a0with King Mlapa III, whereby Germany claimed a\u00a0protectorate<\/a>\u00a0over a stretch of territory along the coast and gradually extended its control inland. Its borders were defined after the capture of hinterland by German forces and signing agreements with France and Britain. In 1905, this became the\u00a0German colony<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Togoland<\/a>. The local population was forced to work, cultivate cotton, coffee, and cocoa and pay high taxes. A railway and the port of\u00a0Lom\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0were built for export of agricultural products. The Germans introduced modern techniques of cultivation of\u00a0cocoa<\/a>,\u00a0coffee<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0cotton<\/a>\u00a0and developed the infrastructure.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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Togoland (R. Hellgrewe, 1908)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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During the <\/span>First World War<\/a>, Togoland was invaded by\u00a0<\/span>Britain<\/a>\u00a0and France, proclaiming the Anglo-French condominium. On 7 December 1916, the condominium collapsed and Togo was divided into British and French zones. 20 July 1922 Great Britain received the\u00a0<\/span>League of Nations<\/a>\u00a0mandate to govern the western part of Togo and France to govern the eastern part. In 1945, the country received the right to send three representatives to the French parliament.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

After\u00a0World War II<\/a>, these mandates became\u00a0UN Trust Territories<\/a>. The residents of\u00a0British Togoland<\/a>\u00a0voted<\/a>\u00a0to join the\u00a0Gold Coast<\/a>\u00a0as part of the new independent nation of\u00a0Ghana<\/a>\u00a0in 1957.\u00a0French Togoland<\/a>\u00a0became an autonomous republic within the\u00a0French Union<\/a>\u00a0in 1959, while France retained the right to control the defense, foreign relations, and finances.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Independence to Present Day (1960\u2013present):<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Togolese Republic was proclaimed on 27 April 1960. In the\u00a0first presidential elections<\/a>\u00a0in 1961,\u00a0Sylvanus Olympio<\/a>\u00a0became the first president, gaining 100% of the vote in elections boycotted by the opposition. On 9 April 1961, the Constitution of the Togolese Republic was adopted, according to which the supreme legislative body was the\u00a0National Assembly of Togo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Sylvanus Olympio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In December 1961, leaders of opposition parties were arrested because they were accused of the preparation of an anti-government conspiracy. A decree was issued on the dissolution of the opposition parties. Olympio tried to reduce dependence on France by establishing cooperation with the United States, United Kingdom, and\u00a0West Germany<\/a>. He also rejected the efforts of French soldiers who were demobilized after the\u00a0Algerian War<\/a>\u00a0and tried to get a position in the Togolese army. These factors eventually led to a military coup on 13 January 1963, during which he was\u00a0assassinated<\/a>\u00a0by a group of soldiers under the direction of Sergeant\u00a0Gnassingb\u00e9 Eyad\u00e9ma<\/a>. A state of emergency was declared in Togo.<\/p>\n

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Gnassingb\u00e9 Eyad\u00e9ma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The military handed over power to an interim government led by\u00a0Nicolas Grunitzky<\/a>. In May 1963, Grunitzky was\u00a0elected<\/a>\u00a0President of the Republic. The new leadership pursued a policy of developing relations with France. His main aim was to dampen the divisions between north and south, promulgate a new constitution, and introduce a multiparty system.<\/p>\n

Exactly four years later, on 13 January 1967, Eyad\u00e9ma Gnassingb\u00e9 overthrew Grunitzky in a bloodless coup and assumed the presidency.<\/sup>\u00a0He created the\u00a0Rally of the Togolese People Party<\/a>, banned activities of other political parties and introduced a one-party system in November 1969. He was reelected in\u00a01979<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a01986<\/a>. In 1983, the\u00a0privatization<\/a>\u00a0program launched and in 1991 other political parties were allowed. In 1993, the EU froze the partnership, describing Eyadema’s re-election in\u00a01993<\/a>,\u00a01998<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a02003<\/a>, as a seizure of power. In April 2004, in Brussels, talks were held between the\u00a0European Union<\/a>\u00a0and Togo on the resumption of cooperation.<\/p>\n

Eyad\u00e9ma Gnassingb\u00e9 suddenly died on 5 February 2005, after 38 years in power, the longest rule of any dictator in Africa. The military’s immediate installation of his son,\u00a0Faure Gnassingb\u00e9<\/a>,<\/sup>\u00a0as president provoked widespread international condemnation, except from France. Some democratically elected African leaders such as\u00a0Abdoulaye Wade<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Senegal<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Olusegun Obasanjo<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Nigeria<\/a>\u00a0supported the move, thereby creating a rift within the\u00a0African Union<\/a>.<\/sup><\/p>\n

Gnassingb\u00e9 left power and held elections, which he won two months later. The opposition declared that the election results were fraudulent. The events of 2005 led to questions regarding the government’s commitment to\u00a0democracy<\/a>\u00a0that had been made in an attempt to normalize relations with the\u00a0EU<\/a>, which cut off\u00a0aid<\/a>\u00a0in 1993 due to questions about Togo’s human rights situation. In addition, up to 400 people were killed in the violence surrounding the presidential elections, according to the\u00a0UN<\/a>. Around 40,000 Togolese fled to neighboring countries. Gnassingb\u00e9 was reelected in\u00a02010<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a02015<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The 2017\u201318 Togolese protests against the 50-year-rule of the Gnassingb\u00e9 family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In late 2017,\u00a0anti-government protests<\/a>\u00a0erupted in Togo, the biggest since those after the\u00a02005 election<\/a>. Protesters demanded the resignation of Gnassingb\u00e9, who is part of a family they alleged has been in power too long. The UN condemned the resulting crackdown by Togolese security forces, and\u00a0Gambia’s<\/a>\u00a0foreign minister,\u00a0Ousainou Darboe<\/a>, had to issue a correction after saying that Gnassingb\u00e9 should resign.<\/p>\n

In the February 2020, presidential elections,\u00a0Faure Gnassingb\u00e9<\/a> won his fourth presidential term in office as the President of Togo.\u00a0According to the official result, he won with a margin of around 72% of the vote share. This enabled him to defeat his closest challenger, the former prime minister\u00a0Agbeyome Kodjo<\/a> who had 18%.\u00a0On May 4, 2020, Bitala Madjoulba, the commander of a Togolese military battalion, was found dead in his office. The day of Madjoulba’s death came right after the recently re-elected\u00a0Faure Gnassingb\u00e9<\/a> gave his investiture. An investigation has been opened for this case and all individuals around his death are being questioned.<\/p>\n

Geography:<\/span><\/h2>\n

Togo has an area equal to 56,785\u00a0km2<\/sup>\u00a0(21,925\u00a0sq\u00a0mi) and is one of the smallest countries in Africa. It borders the\u00a0Bight of Benin<\/a>\u00a0in the south;\u00a0Ghana<\/a>\u00a0lies to the west;\u00a0Benin<\/a>\u00a0to the east; and to the north, Togo is bound by\u00a0Burkina Faso<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Topographic Map of Togo and Ghana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The coast of Togo in the\u00a0Gulf of Guinea<\/a>\u00a0is 56\u00a0km (35 miles) long and consists of lagoons with sandy beaches. In the north, the land is characterized by a gently rolling\u00a0savanna<\/a>\u00a0in contrast to the center of the country, which is characterized by hills. The south of Togo is characterized by a\u00a0savanna and woodland plateau<\/a>\u00a0which reaches a coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes.<\/p>\n

The highest\u00a0mountain<\/a>\u00a0of the country is the\u00a0Mont Agou<\/a>\u00a0at 986 metres (3235′) above sea level. The longest\u00a0river<\/a>\u00a0is the\u00a0Mono River<\/a>\u00a0with a length of 400\u00a0km (250 miles). It runs from north to south.<\/p>\n

Economy:<\/h2>\n

Togo is among the smallest countries in\u00a0Africa<\/a>, but possesses valuable\u00a0phosphate<\/a>\u00a0deposits<\/sup>\u00a0and a well-developed export sector based on agricultural products such as\u00a0coffee<\/a>;\u00a0cocoa bean<\/a>; and\u00a0peanuts<\/a>\u00a0(groundnuts), which together generate roughly 30% of export earnings.<\/sup>\u00a0Cotton is the most important cash crop.<\/sup>\u00a0The fertile land occupies 11.3% of the country, most of which is developed. Major crops are\u00a0cassava<\/a>,\u00a0jasmine rice<\/a>,\u00a0maize<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0millet<\/a>. Other important sectors are\u00a0brewery<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0textile<\/a>\u00a0industry. A permanent problem is the lack of\u00a0electricity<\/a>, because the country is able to produce only about a third of its consumption, the rest is covered by imports from\u00a0Ghana<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Nigeria<\/a>. Low market prices for Togo’s major export commodities, however, coupled with the volatile political situation of the 1990s and early 2000s, had a negative effect on the economy.<\/p>\n

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Togo Exports Treemap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Togo is one of the\u00a0least developed countries<\/a>; the economic situation is still precarious. Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. The government’s decade-long efforts, supported by the\u00a0World Bank<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0International Monetary Fund<\/a>\u00a0(IMF), to carry out economic reforms, to encourage investment, and to create the balance between income and consumption has stalled. Political unrest, including private and public sector, strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, jeopardized the reform program, shrank the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity.<\/p>\n

Togo imports\u00a0machinery<\/a>, equipment,\u00a0petroleum<\/a>\u00a0products, and\u00a0food<\/a>. Main import partners are France (21.1%), the Netherlands (12.1%),\u00a0C\u00f4te d’Ivoire<\/a>\u00a0(5.9%), Germany (4.6%), Italy (4.4%), South Africa (4.3%) and China (4.1%). The main exports are\u00a0cocoa<\/a>,\u00a0coffee<\/a>, re-export of goods,\u00a0phosphates<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0cotton<\/a>. Major export partners are\u00a0Burkina Faso<\/a>\u00a0(16.6%), China (15.4%), the Netherlands (13%),\u00a0Benin<\/a>\u00a0(9.6%) and\u00a0Mali<\/a>\u00a0(7.4%).<\/p>\n

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Togolese fishermen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In terms of structural reforms, Togo has made progress in the\u00a0liberalization<\/a>\u00a0of the economy, namely in the fields of\u00a0trade<\/a>\u00a0and port activities. However, the privatization program of the cotton sector,\u00a0telecommunications<\/a>\u00a0and water supply has stalled. The country currently has no debt due to financial assistance from the outside while Togo is likely among the most beneficiary countries under the Initiative help in\u00a0Heavily Indebted Poor Countries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

12 January 1994 devaluation of the currency by 50% provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment; these efforts were facilitated by the end of strife in 1994 and a return to overt political calm. Progress depends on increased openness in government financial operations (to accommodate increased social service outlays) and possible downsizing of the\u00a0armed forces<\/a>, on which the regime has depended to stay in place. Lack of aid and depressed cocoa prices generated a 1% fall in GDP in 1998, with growth resuming in 1999. Togo is a member of the\u00a0Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa<\/a>\u00a0(OHADA).<\/p>\n

Transportation:<\/h2>\n

Togo has 568km of narrow gauge railways.<\/p>\n

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Rail Routes in Togo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Togo has a total 7,520 km of roadways of which 2,376 are paved.<\/p>\n

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Road Map of Togo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The\u00a0Trans\u2013West African Coastal Highway<\/a>\u00a0crosses Togo, connecting it to\u00a0Benin<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Nigeria<\/a>\u00a0to the east, and\u00a0Ghana<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ivory Coast<\/a>\u00a0to the west. When construction in\u00a0Liberia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Sierra Leone<\/a>\u00a0is finished, the highway will continue west to seven other\u00a0Economic Community of West African States<\/a>\u00a0(ECOWAS) nations. A paved highway also connects Togo northwards to\u00a0Burkina Faso<\/a>\u00a0and from there north-west to\u00a0Mali<\/a>\u00a0and north-east to\u00a0Niger<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Togo has 8 airports but only 2 of those have paved runways.<\/p>\n

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Lome Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two international airports are:<\/p>\n