History
Slavery and colonization
Togo suffered from the slave trade from the 16th to the 19th century. In 1884, King Mlapa III de Togoville, signs a protectorate treaty with Germany, which ends in 1918 at the end of the First World War. The Allies then shared the German colonies. Togo is thus divided into two : the western part is attached to the British Gold Coast (Ghana today). The eastern part becomes French Togo.
Independence
The 27 avril 1960, Togo gains independence. Under the instigation of French commander Maitrier, head of the national gendarmerie, 626 Togolese veterans of the French army, a large part of whom had fought in Algeria and Indochina are asking to be integrated into the Togolese security forces which count 300 members. The president of the Republic, Sylvanus Olympio refuse. They deposed him in a coup d'état on 13 January 1963, in which Olympio dies. It is Nicolas Grunitsky who is brought to power but four years later, following a new coup d'état, he must flee the country. One of the organizers of the coup d'état 1963, Gnassingbé Eyadéma is promoted to President of the Republic in 1967. He will rule the country with an iron fist until his death in 2005.
Recent history
After the death of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, the army entrusts power to the son under very controversial conditions. Under pressure from the African Union and the international community, this coup d'état fails 25 February with the resignation of Faure Gnassingbé. Elections take place in April, in once again very controversial conditions. As soon as the results are announced, demonstrations break out. They will be violently repressed by the army between 500 et 800 dead. Legislative elections took place in October 2007. the ruling party still remains in the majority.
The EU decided in 2008 to help Togo get back on track, et de nouveau des programmes d’aide sont mis en place après une interruption de quinze ans pour cause de déficit démocratique.
