Togo

Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It is a small, tropical country with an area of about 57,000 square kilometres and a population of around 8 million people.

The area that is now Togo was settled by various peoples between the 11th and 16th centuries. Later, from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region was used as a trading post by Europeans. In 1884, during the scramble for Africa, Germany established control there, calling it Togoland. After World War I, France took control, and Togo gained independence in 1960.

Today, Togo's economy relies mainly on agriculture. The official language is French, but many other languages are spoken. Christianity is the largest religion, with nearly half the population identifying as Christian. Togo is part of several international organizations, including the United Nations and the African Union.

Etymology

The name "Togo" means "by the water" or "behind the sea". It comes from the Ewe words to ("water") and go ("shore"). At first, the name only referred to the town of Togo, which is now called Togoville. Later, the Germans used the name for the whole country.

Since Togo became independent in 1960, its official name is the Togolese Republic.

History

Main article: History of Togo

Archaeological finds show that people in Togo made pottery and worked with iron long ago. The name Togo means "behind the river" in the Ewe language. From the 1100s to the 1500s, groups like the Ewé, Mina, and Gun moved into the area, mostly settling along the coast. The Atlantic slave trade began in the 1500s, and for the next 200 years, the coast became a place where Europeans traded for slaves, earning the area the name "The Slave Coast".

In 1884, Germany took control of a stretch of land along the coast from Togo's king, creating a protectorate. They built railways and ports and grew crops like cocoa, coffee, and cotton. During World War I, British and French forces took over the area. After the war, the United Nations let Britain and France govern different parts of Togo.

Togo became independent in 1960. Sylvanus Olympio was the first president, but he was killed in a military coup in 1963. Another leader, Nicolas Grunitzky, took over but was later removed by Sergeant Gnassingbé Eyadéma in 1967. Eyadéma ruled for many years, creating a single-party system and staying in power through elections that many thought were unfair.

Eyadéma died in 2005, and his son, Faure Gnassingbé, took over. This caused some protests and violence, and many people fled the country. Gnassingbé stayed in power through several elections. In 2008, Togolese athlete Benjamin Boukpeti won Togo's first Olympic medal, a bronze, in canoeing at the Beijing Olympics.

In 2017, protests against the government led to a crackdown. In 2020, Gnassingbé won another election and began his fourth term as president. Togo joined the Commonwealth in 2022, hoping it would bring new opportunities for trade, development, and learning.

Government

Main article: Politics of Togo

The president of Togo is chosen by an election and serves a term of four years. The president leads the country's armed forces and can start new laws or end the work of parliament. The government's daily work is done by a group of ministers, led by a president who used to be called the prime minister. The president chooses who will lead this group.

President Gnassingbé Eyadéma ruled Togo for many years until his passing in 2005. After his death, his son Faure Gnassingbé became president. There were some problems and protests, but Faure Gnassingbé was later elected in an election. He has been re-elected several times since then.

2024 constitutional reform

In March 2024, Gnassingbé suggested a new set of rules for how the country is run. These rules changed Togo from having a president who has a lot of power to having a parliament that has more control. The new rules also made the president's job more like a symbol of the country, while giving more power to the group of ministers. The new rules became official in May 2024.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Regions of Togo and Prefectures of Togo

Togo is split into five areas called regions. These regions are then split into smaller parts called prefectures.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Togo

Togo tries to stay friendly with all countries, but it has strong ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo is part of many international groups and works closely with other countries in West Africa and the African Union.

Military

Togo has an army, navy, air force, and a special police force called the gendarmerie. The military has bases in several cities across the country.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Togo

Some people in Togo face difficult situations. There have been reports of unfair treatments and problems with freedom. It is important for everyone to work together to make sure all people are treated fairly and with respect.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Togo

Togo is a country in West Africa with an area of 56,785 km². It is located near the Bight of Benin and shares borders with Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. The country's landscape changes from sandy beaches and lagoons along the coast to hills in the center and savannah in the north. The highest point is Mont Agou, standing at 986 meters above sea level. The longest river is the Mono River, which flows for 400 km from north to south.

The climate in Togo is mostly tropical, with temperatures ranging from about 23°C along the coast to around 30°C in the north. The country includes different natural areas such as forests, savannah, and marshes. Several protected areas have been created to help preserve wildlife, including Abdoulaye Faunal Reserve, Fazao Malfakassa National Park, Fosse aux Lions National Park, Koutammakou, and Kéran National Park.

Wildlife

Main article: Wildlife of Togo

Economy

Main article: Economy of Togo

See also: List of companies based in Togo

Togo has useful resources like phosphate and grows crops such as coffee, cocoa bean, and peanuts, which help its economy. The country also grows cotton, and its fertile land supports other crops like cassava, jasmine rice, maize, and millet. Togo also has industries such as brewery and the textile industry.

Togo is one of the least developed countries. It works with groups like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to improve its economy, but political problems have made this difficult. Togo imports things like machinery and petroleum, and exports goods such as cocoa, coffee, and phosphates to countries like Burkina Faso and China.

Agriculture is very important to Togo, providing jobs for many people and helping feed the country. Mining also plays a big role, with Togo having large phosphate deposits. Industry, including building and light manufacturing, adds to the country's income as well.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Togo

Road

Togo's roads are very important for moving people and goods, both inside the country and to other places. The country has about 11,734 kilometres of roads, with only about 15% of them paved. Major roads connect the capital city, Lomé, to nearby countries like Burkina Faso, Benin, and Ghana. These roads are part of a bigger plan to help trade across West Africa.

However, many roads in Togo are in poor condition, with big holes and not enough care. This makes driving dangerous, especially with many people, animals, and motorcycles on the roads. The government is working to improve roads with help from groups like the World Bank.

In cities like Lomé, people use different ways to get around. Yellow taxis are common, and motorcycle taxis, called "moto-taxis," are popular for moving quickly through traffic.

Railways

Togo has a railway system that is 568 kilometres long. The trains run on tracks that are a special width, called narrow gauge. A company called SNCT runs the trains. There are several railway lines, including ones from Lomé to Aného, Blitta, and Kpalimé.

Air

Togo has seven airports, two of which are for international travel. The biggest is Lomé–Tokoin International Airport, near the capital city. In 2016, a new terminal was built, making it able to handle more people. In 2024, about 1.5 million passengers used the airport. ASKY Airlines, based in Lomé, flies to many places in Africa. Another airport, Niamtougou International Airport, serves the northern part of the country.

Water

Togo has only a small part of its rivers that can be used for boats, about 50 kilometres of the Mono River. The main port for trade is the Port of Lomé, located in the capital city.

Telecommunication

Togo has made big steps in its telecommunication system, becoming a leader in mobile internet quality in West Africa. By early 2024, about 6.91 million people in Togo were using mobile phones, which is about 75.7% of the country’s population. In that same year, the international Telecommunication Union reported that 45.3 out of every 100 people had mobile internet, and 59.3% of people owned a mobile phone.

The main mobile network companies in Togo are Moov Africa Togo (part of the Maroc Telecom / Moov Africa group) and Yas Togo (previously known as Togocel, owned by Togo Telecom, a state company).

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Togo

In 2010, Togo's population was counted at 6,191,155, more than double the number from the last count in 1981. By 2022, the population grew to 8,680,832. The capital city, Lomé, expanded from 375,499 people in 1981 to 837,437 in 2010. When you include the surrounding Golfe area, Lomé had about 1,477,660 people in 2010.

Other big cities in Togo include Sokodé (95,070 people), Kara (94,878), Kpalimé (75,084), Atakpamé (69,261), Dapaong (58,071), and Tsévié (54,474). Togo is the 107th largest country by population, with most people living in rural villages working in farming.

Ethnic groups

Togo has about 40 different ethnic groups. The largest group is the Ewe, making up 32% of the population and living mainly in the south. Other groups include the Kotokoli or Tem, Tchamba, and Kabye people in the north (22%). The Ouatchis make up 14% of the population. Smaller groups include the Mina, Mossi, Moba, Bassar, and Tchokossi. There are also French people and Portuguese people living in Togo.

The Adele people

The Adele people, who call themselves Bédéré, live in about twenty villages split between Ghana and Togo. Their traditions tell of ancestors coming from the sky with important skills like making pottery and weaving. Their villages have special round houses with thatched roofs.

The Akebou people

The Akebou people live in the Atakora mountains in central Togo. Their history includes early settlements and later arrivals of Ewe people. They formed a central leadership in the village of Lonfo.

The Ntrubo people

The Ntrubo people have small villages in Togo and more in Ghana. They speak their own language, Delo, which is part of the Tem language group.

The Akposso people

The Akposso have traditions of being from local areas or coming from Notsé. They live in several groups and speak the Akposso language.

The Bogo (Ahlon) people

The Bogo people, also called Ahlon, live in Togo and Ghana. They have three main clans and follow traditions around their river and sanctuary.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Togo

Religion in Togo (Arda 2020 estimate)

1. Christianity 47.84 (47.4%)
2. Traditional faiths 33.43 (33.1%)
3. Islam 18.36 (18.2%)
4. No religion 0.23 (0.23%)
5. Other 1.14 (1.13%)
6. 0 (0.00%)
7. 0 (0.00%)

Christianity began with Portuguese missionaries in the 1400s. Germans brought Protestantism in the late 1800s. Today, religious freedom is protected, and many people practice both their traditional beliefs and Christianity or Islam.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Togo

Togo has 39 different languages. The official language is French, used in schools and government. Two other languages, Ewé and Kabiyé, are used in education and media. Ewe is widely spoken in the south, while Kabiye is used in the north. Other languages include Gen, Aja, Moba, Ntcham, and Ife.

Health

Togo works to improve health services. The country spends about 5.2% of its economy on health. Many people need better medical care, especially for children and mothers. Efforts are ongoing to increase access to healthcare and reduce diseases.