Political Overview
Togo is a presidential republic in which executive power is centered on the president, who is both head of state and head of government. Since the country’s independence from France in 1960, the Gnassingbé family has dominated the political landscape, with Faure Gnassingbé serving as president since 2005. While multiparty elections are held regularly, they have frequently been marred by allegations of irregularities, and opposition parties continue to press for constitutional and electoral reforms to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

Cultural Heritage and Identity
Togo’s rich cultural tapestry is woven from more than 40 distinct ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Ewe in the south and the Kabye in the north. French is the official language, but indigenous languages alongside regional lingua francas like Ewe and Kabiye play a vital role in daily life. Traditional music and dance, including the Agbadza and Tchinkoumé, remain cornerstones of community celebration, while Vodun (voodoo) and other indigenous spiritual practices coexist harmoniously with Christianity and Islam, reflecting a deeply syncretic cultural identity.

Geographical Landscape, Area, and Climate
Stretching approximately 600 km from the Gulf of Guinea into the hinterland, Togo covers about 56,785 km², making it one of Africa’s smaller nations. The country’s terrain gradually rises from a narrow coastal plain in the south to rolling hills and plateaus in the central region, culminating in the moderately rugged Atakora Mountains in the northwest. Togo experiences a tropical climate along the coast and in the south characterized by two rainy seasons and two dry seasons and a more semi-arid climate in the northern plains, where rainfall is lighter and the Harmattan wind brings dry, dusty conditions during the late dry season.