When the longest-serving African dictator, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, died unexpectedly in February after 38 years of autocratic rule, political conflict flared up again. His son, Faure Gnassingbé sized power in a coup with the backing of the army and the Barons of the ruling party. Violent protest...

Non-violent presidential elections paved the way for another five-year mandate for Faure Gnassingbé in Togo in 2010. Although marked by considerable irregularities, the voting was considered largely credible by the international community, which enhanced the legitimacy of the incumbent. An...

Domestic politics in Togo in 2009 was dominated by the preparation for the decisive 2010 presidential elections and by the aggravating family feud within the ruling Gnassingbé clan. In April, the latter culminated in an alleged coup plot of Kpatcha Gnassingbé, the junior half-brother of the...

The coalition government continued on the path to establishing democracy, good governance and the rule of law in Togo in 2011. Its efforts were honoured by the international donor community with growing commitments and the cancellation of foreign debt. Domestic politics were dominated by...

The demand for political alternance, initiated by institutional and electoral reforms, constituted the major contentious issue between the government and the challengers of the Gnassingbé regime throughout the year. Civil society organizations and representatives of the Christian church...

Peaceful but undemocratic legislative elections consolidated the power of the Gnassingbé regime in 2013. In view of the absolute majority gained by the ruling party, its inclination to implement meaningful reforms, as demanded by the opposition and the donor community, was reduced further. The...

Domestic politics in Togo in 2012 were dominated by the upcoming legislative and local elections and irreconcilable differences between the ruling party on the one hand and a broad coalition of opposition parties and civil society organisations on the other. Under the growing momentum of regular...

The formal legitimization of democratic transition in Togo in 2008 by free parliamentarian elections in October 2007 was honoured by the international donor community. Generous aid and debt relief helped the ailing economy to recover. Domestic politics were already overshadowed by the decisive...

Togo's national reconciliation process initiated in 2006 continued in 2007. Largely free and fair parliamentary elections in October paved the way for the resumption of development aid after 14 years of interruption because of serious human rights violations and bad governance. The economic...

Controversial constitutional and institutional reforms voted in May 2019 in parliament opened the way for President Gnassingbé to stand for a fourth and fifth term (2020 and 2030) because the law does not apply retroactively. The first local elections since more than 30 years resulted in the...