Faure Gnassingbé

Helen Clark meeting with Togolese president in 2009

A day after his father's death, the National Assembly received clear instructions to dismiss Natchaba and elect Gnassingbé in his place, which would legalize his succession, which took place on 6 February 2005.[13] Gnassingbé's election was unanimously approved by the deputies (98% of them were members of the ruling party) who were present in the National Assembly at the time; the opposition was not represented in the National Assembly due to its boycott of the 2002 parliamentary election. The members of Gnassingbé's party did not want to challenge the army's choice. The parliament also eliminated a constitutional requirement that elections be held within 60 days of the president's death, enabling the younger Gnassingbé to rule until the expiration of his father's term in 2008.[14]

Barack and Michelle Obama greet Faure Gnassingbé in August 2014.

Under pressure from others in the region, and particularly Nigeria, later in February 2005 Gnassingbé announced that new elections would be held within 60 days, but said that he would remain in office in the meantime. However, on February 21, the National Assembly reversed some of the constitutional changes that it had made so as to allow Gnassingbé to assume power, although it did not instruct him to resign. This was construed as a way of pressuring him to stand down with dignity. To change the constitution during a period of transition was itself an unconstitutional act, but this did not deter Gnassingbé's allies.

President Faure Gnassingbé at the launch of the National Development Plan (PND) in 2019

On February 25, Gnassingbé was nominated by delegates of the ruling party, the Rally for the Togolese People, as the party's presidential candidate. He was also chosen as head of the party. Shortly afterwards, he announced that he would step down as president during the interim period. Bonfoh Abass was appointed by the National Assembly to replace him until the election on April 24, 2005. Bonfoh was considered by some to be a puppet of the military elite and the Gnassingbé family. Gnassingbé competed with the main opposition candidate, Emmanuel Bob-Akitani, a retired engineer of the state-owned mining company and the second most important person in the opposition coalition after Gilchrist Olympio. Olympio could not take part in the election, since the constitution required that any candidate must have lived for at least 12 months in Togo, and Olympio had been in self-imposed exile for fear that he would be murdered by the Eyadema clan like his father.

In the election, Gnassingbé received slightly more than 60% of the votes, according to official results. The RPT refused to allow oversight during the counting of the ballots. The EU and the Carter Center deemed the elections to be fraudulent. Mass protests by the coalition of opposition parties led to the killing of over 1,000 citizens by security forces.[15] 40,000 refugees fled to neighboring Benin and Ghana.[16]

The phosphates sector – accounting for 40% of export revenues – is managed at the office of the president, and it is alleged that contracts and permits to manage the sector are sold to profit the president.[17]

Ever since he took power in 2005 he has worked hard to push national reconciliation and make a peaceful political climate. While doing that he also advocated openness and has managed affairs. Under his administration Togo is recording noticeable growth increase and entered an active phase of modernization, thanks to bold policies. Gnassingbe has also done his best to improve the life of many people in Togo. While as president he has planned to attract, growth, and enhance investment.[18]

Since improving the Economy of Togo he has mobilized 12 to 860 billion CFA franc in order for construction of National No.2. He also reconstructed the nations infrastructure by progressing steps with the Togblécopé and Amakpapé bridges being completed. In which is why he had an agenda to develop the country in where he announced in Belgium.[19]

Gnassingbé agreed with Alpha Condé and Nana Akufo-Addo that he would successfully restore a national dialogue, enabling the ECOWAS to draw a plan to end the crisis. This plan proved to be successful as two years later, the country seems to have fully recovered, with its economy being more dynamic than ever.[20]

After becoming president in 2005 he wanted to reform the nation to give his administration to clean up Public service. These reforms began with noted and many shortcomings. In which they would later set up workshops that decided on a framework for a global strategy for reform and the modernization of the public service. These reforms clearly provided for redefining and strengthening the capacities of the administration so that it can offer services witb quality of, rationalized structures and standards for better delivery at departmental level, it also strengthened the effectiveness of government work and promoted motivation for public servants.[21]

The process of reconciliation and democratization is not done for a single person. It is a collective work, it is a common good. We don't do it for the benefit of an individual, but we do it for the whole nation.

As the Islamic State was expanding in Africa Gnassingbé warned that though the national forces have won against them a few times, staying alert is a must, given the sporadic and unpredictable nature of the attacks. He also has relocated 12,000 Togolese in order to secure the nation’s borders but also welcoming refugees escaping from the Jihadists.[22]Under his rule he has continued to fight against Boko Haram.

Protesters in Belgium.

Since his dad Gnassingbé Eyadéma died in February 2005 there have been many protests which were caused by authoritarianism and elections which were claimed to be fraudulent. As these protests went on every year there would be more. With him even shutting down the internet admist the protests with the decision by the government to propose a constitutional change to bring about a two-term-limit of two which didn’t help the protestors.[23]

In 2019 the Parliament of Togo approved a new bill that allowed Gnassingbé to stay in office until 2030. Despite that many protests took place in the streets calling for the end of the dynasty ruling for 50+ years.[24]

Since his first days in office Togo and China’s relations have been getting better with both countries economy also growing rapidly. With China developing its relations with Togo and will join efforts with Togo to push bilateral relations to new highs. The two countries have consolidated political mutual trust, enhance exchanges and cooperation and promote common development. China has encouraged and supported its enterprises to invest and develop in Togo since.[25]

He also met with Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta in where they talked about humanitarianism and that Gnassingbé has improved it in his presidency.[26]

Meanwhile in 2010 Gnassingbé and the Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama met with each other with Hatoyama congratulating Gnassingbé for winning the election results. Gnassingbé later met Fumio Kishida in the Japan-Togo summit meeting where Kishida expressed his support for Gnassingbé for visiting the funeral of Shinzo Abe. In response, President Gnassingbe conveyed his sincere condolences to former Prime Minister. They would also talk about their good relations with each other and how Japan was going to reinforce its relationship.[27]