Togo

Togo is a country in West Africa. It borders Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. The country extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where the capital's largest city, Lome, is located. Togo covers 57,000 square kilometers (22,008 square miles) and is one of the smallest countries in Africa, with a population of about 8 million and one of the narrowest countries in the world with a width of less than 115 km (71). is. mi) Between Ghana and its slightly larger eastern neighbor, Benin.

From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various tribes invaded the area from all directions. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal areas were the main trading centers for Europeans to buy slaves, and Togo and its surrounding areas were named "Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared the area containing what is now Togo as a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, Togo's rule was transferred to France. Togo gained independence from France in 1960. In 1967, Nyashin Beyadema led a successful military coup and subsequently became president of an anti-communist one-party state. Finally, in 1993, Eyadema faced a multi-party election hurt by irregularities, and he defeated the president three times. At the time of his death, Eyadema was president for 38 years and was the longest-serving leader in modern African history. In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president. He continues to hold his office as of 2021.

Togo is a tropical sub-Saharan country, its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, and its climate provides a good growing season. The official language is French, but many other languages, especially those of the Gbe family, are spoken. The largest religious groups are made up of people with indigenous beliefs, with important Christian and Islamic minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophone, and the Economic Community of West African States.