Togo - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Togo, it was derived from the Ewe words "to" (river) and "godo" (on the other side) to give the sense of "on the other side of the river"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
National symbols
Lion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white.
The flag
The National flag of Togo has five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; the five horizontal stripes stand for the five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people, green symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture, while yellow represents mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and Togo's independence.
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note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
The National Anthem
| Title | "Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH |
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note: adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992
More about the government of Togo
| Date of Independence | 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 27 April (1960) |
| Legal system | customary law system |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; revised 6 May 2024 |
| Amendments | Proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2007, last in 2024 (reported as a revision) |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Victoire TOMEGAH Dogbé (since 25 September 2020) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president note- on 21 May 2024 the Prime Minister and her cabinet resigned. The President requested they continue serving during the government transition. |
| Election results | 2020: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 70.8%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 19.5%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.7%, other 5% 2015: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE (ADDI) 4%, other 2%
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| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 113 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 6 years |
| Most recent election date | 4/29/2024 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | Union for the Republic (UNIR) (108); Other (5) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 15% |
| Expected date of next election | April 2030 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic upon the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA |
| Subordinate courts | Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Frédéric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017) |
| Chancery | 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 234-4212 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 232-3190 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://embassyoftogousa.com/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ronald E. HAWKINS Jr. (since 31 May 2024) |
| Embassy | DoS PDF Ambassador Assignments Overseas Report, 23 December 2024 and 28 June 2024, accessed 14 January 2025; and U.S. Embassy Togo website homepage, U.S. Mission Leaders, https://tg.usembassy.gov/, Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Togo, current as of 14 January 2025, accessed 14 January 2025; and U.S. Embassy Togo website, U.S. Mission Leaders, (undated), https://tg.usembassy.gov/category/u-s-mission-leaders/, U.S. Mission Leaders Archives - U.S. Embassy in Togo, accessed 14 January 2025 X@USEmbassyLome post on departure of Ambassador, 30 May 2024, accessed 14 January 2025 |
| Mailing address | 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300 |
| Telephone | [228] 2261-5470 |
| FAX | [228] 2261-5501 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://tg.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Koutammakou; the Land of the Batammariba |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Togo
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Togo
Want to know more about Togo? Check all different factbooks for Togo below.
