Togo

Togo (officially the Togolese Republic, in French: République togolaise) is a small country in West Africa.  It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. The capital city Lomé is located along the Gulf of Guinea. About 9.3 million people live there. The official language is French. Togo was a hub of the Atlantic slave trade for Europeans. Togo was a part of the Slave Coast. Many Togolese descendants live in the Americas. Togo is also known for its various flora and fauna. Monkeys, snakes, and lizards are numerous in many areas in Togo.

 History 
From the 11th century to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions: the Ewé from the east, and the Mina and Guin from the west; most of them settled in coastal areas. The Portuguese explored the area in the late 15th century. As Togoland, it became a protectorate of Germany in 1884. After World War I, Togo was ceded to the French. Togo gained independence from French rule on 27 April 1960. General Gnassingbé Eyadéma became the military leader in 1967. When Eyadéma resigned in 2002 and later passed away in 2005, his son, Faure Gnassingbe became president. In June 2022, Togo joined the Commonwealth of Nations.

 Economy 
The economy of this small African country is based on agriculture. Agriculture provides jobs for 65% of the labor force according to the CIA Factbook. Agricultural products include coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, and sorghum. Industries include phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, and beverages.

 Government 
The president of Togo is elected for 5 years. The president is also the commander of the armed forces. The president also has the right to begin legislation and dissolve parliament.

After Togo's independence from France, General Gnassingbé Eyadéma became the military leader. When Eyadéma died in 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbe became president.  During his re-election campaign, he helped get port concessions in Lomé extended for Bolloré Groupe from 10 to 35 years in exchange for help from the group's public relations subsidiary Havas.  In a 26 Feb 2021 civil hearing at the Paris judicial court, French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, along with associates Gilles Alix and Jean-Philippe Dorent, pleaded guilty to corrupt practices in Togo.  The President of the court rejected the negotiated plea bargain and ordered that the three be tried in criminal court.  In the same trial, Bolloré SE was fined $12 million.Simon Peil (26 Feb 2021), "Vers un procès contre Vincent Bolloré dans une affaire de corruption en Afrique", Le Monde

Regions
Togo is divided into 5 regions.  The regions are divided into 30 prefectures and 1 commune.  From north to south the regions are Savanes, Kara, Centrale, Plateaux and Maritime.

Cities
The largest cities in Togo are:
 Rank City Population1981 Census Population2005 Estimate Region 1.  Lomé  375,499  729,258  Maritime 2.  Sokodé  45,660  117,811  Centrale 3.  Kara 28,902  104,207  Kara 4.  Kpalimé 28,262  95,974  Plateaux 5.  Atakpamé 24,139  80,683  Plateaux 6.  Bassar 17,867  61,845  Kara 7.  Tsévié 20,480  55,775  Maritime 8.  Aného 14,368  47,579  Maritime 9.  Sansanné-Mango 12,894  37,748  Savanes 10.  Dapaong 16,939  33,324  Savanes 11.  Tchamba 12,911  25,668  Centrale 12.  Niamtougou 12,444  23,261  Kara 13.  Bafilo 12,060  22,543  Kara 14.  Notsé 8,916  22,017  Plateaux 15.  Sotouboua 10,590  21,054  Centrale 16.  Vogan 11,260  20,569  Maritime 17.  Badou 8,111  20,029  Plateaux 18.  Tabligbo 7,526  13,748  Maritime 19.  Kandé 6,134  11,466  Kara 20.  Amlamé 3,997  9,870  Plateaux 21.  Kpagouda 4,112  7,686  Kara

Religion
About 48% of the population is Christian. 33% have traditional faiths and 18% are Muslim.

 Food and drink 
The Togolese enjoy many foods including tropical fruits, pastries, and many different products made from peanuts. Major drinks include tea, coffee, and wine. Togolese often snack on plantains and French donuts or beignets.

Related pages
List of rivers of Togo
Togo at the Olympics
Togo national football team

References


Category:Least developed countries
Category:French-speaking countries
Category:Commonwealth member states