President of the Togolese Republic Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Togolese Republic
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové since 3 May 2025
Residence	New Presidential Palace, Lomé
Nominator	Parliament
Appointer	Parliament
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Togo (2024)
Formation	27 April 1960; 65 years ago (1960-04-27)
First holder	Sylvanus Olympio

The president of the Togolese Republic is the head of state of the country of Togo. The president's job is mostly symbolic. The real power to run the country belongs to the president of the Council of Ministers. This person leads the government's main group of advisors, called the cabinet.

The current president is Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové. He took office on May 3, 2025. He is also the oldest person to ever become president in Togo's history.

For a long time, Togo's president had a lot of power. They were both the head of state and the head of government. But in April 2024, the country's rules, or constitution, were changed. These changes made the president's role more ceremonial and gave more power to the parliament.

Even with fewer powers, the president is still the commander-in-chief of the Togolese Armed Forces. The president also chooses the person who will be the president of the Council of Ministers.

Since Togo became independent, five people have served as president. One person, Faure Gnassingbé, served two different times.

The President's Job
Where the President Lives
List of Presidents
Timeline of Presidents
See also

The President's Job

How is the president chosen?

The president of Togo is not elected directly by the people. Instead, the president is chosen by the Parliament. This group is made up of members from the National Assembly and the Senate. They serve a four-year term.

A president can be chosen for a second term, but that's all. The Constitution of Togo says a president can only serve two terms.

To become president, a person must:

Be nominated by a group in Parliament.
Be a Togolese citizen from birth.
Be over 50 years old.
Have full rights as a citizen.
Have lived in Togo for more than one year.
Be checked by three doctors to make sure they are healthy.

To win the election, a candidate needs to get more than half the votes from Parliament.

Taking the Oath of Office

Before starting the job, the new president must make a special promise called an oath. They say this oath in front of the Constitutional Court.

Before God and before the Togolese people... We _____, elected President of the Republic... solemnly swear.
— to respect and to defend the Constitution...
— to loyally fulfil the high functions that the Nation has confided in us.
— to be guided solely by the general interest and the respect of the rights of the human person...
— to preserve the integrity of the national territory;
— to conduct ourselves at all times, as a faithful and loyal servant of the People.

What if the president can't serve?

If a president can no longer do their job because of death, resignation, or a serious problem, the president of the National Assembly takes over for a short time.

The government then has 60 days to organize an election for a new president.

Where the President Lives

After Togo became independent, the president lived and worked in the Palace of the Governors. This building was once used by leaders from Germany and France when they ruled Togo.

In 1970, President Gnassingbé Eyadéma moved into a new Presidential Palace. In 2006, another new palace was opened by President Faure Gnassingbé just outside the capital city, Lomé.

List of Presidents

Here is a list of all the people who have served as the president of Togo.

Political parties

Committee of Togolese Unity (CUT) Togolese People's Movement (MPT) Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) Union for the Republic (UNIR) Pan-African Patriotic Convergence (CPP)

Other factions

Military

Status

Shows an acting or temporary head of state

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Prime minister(s)
1		Sylvanus Olympio (1902–1963)	1961	27 April 1960	13 January 1963 (Killed during a military takeover)	2 years, 261 days	CUT	Himself
—		Emmanuel Bodjollé (1928–?)	—	13 January 1963	15 January 1963	2 days	Military	Position not used
2		Nicolas Grunitzky (1913–1969)	1963	16 January 1963	13 January 1967 (Removed in a military takeover)	3 years, 362 days	MPT	Position not used
—		Kléber Dadjo (1914–1988/89)	—	16 January 1967	14 April 1967	91 days	Military	Position not used
3		Gnassingbé Eyadéma (1935–2005)	1972, 1979, 1986, 1993, 1998, 2003	14 April 1967	5 February 2005	37 years, 297 days	Military (1967–1969) RPT (1969–2005)	Koffigoh E. Kodjo Klutse Adoboli A. Kodjo Sama
4		Faure Gnassingbé (born 1966)	—	5 February 2005	25 February 2005 (Resigned)	20 days	RPT	Sama
—		Bonfoh Abass (1948–2021)	—	25 February 2005	4 May 2005	68 days	RPT	Sama
(4)		Faure Gnassingbé (born 1966)	2005, 2010, 2015, 2020	4 May 2005	3 May 2025	19 years, 364 days	RPT (2005–2012) UNIR (2012–2025)	Sama E. Kodjo Agboyibo Mally Houngbo Ahoomey-Zunu Klassou Tomegah Dogbé
5		Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové (born 1939)	2025	3 May 2025	Incumbent	89 days	CPP	Gnassingbé