Togo whose capital is Lome, is a tropical, nation, whose economy depends highly on agriculture. While the official language is French, many other languages are spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group consists of those with indigenous beliefs, and there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophonie, and Economic Community of West African States.
Togo’s transition to democracy is stalled. Its democratic institutions remain nascent and fragile. President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo under a one-party system, died of a heart attack on 5 February 2005. Instead of the Speaker of Parliament, his son Faure Eyadema replaced him as President. In the 2005 elections, up to 400 people were killed in the violence surrounding the presidential elections, according to the UN. Around 40,000 Togolese fled to neighboring countries. Gnassingbé was reelected in 2010 and 2015.
The primary security problem of Togo is maritime piracy. Organized crime syndicates use Togo as a transit point for drug trafficking and the smuggling of other illegal goods. As the terrorists continue to pursue their expansionist agenda, Togo has experienced several terrorist attacks since late 2021 in the Northern border with Burkina Faso. The first terrorist attack on a small northern village called Sanloaga was foiled by Togolese soldiers. In May 2022 however, about 60 attackers on motorcycles attacked a military post in Kpinkankandi near Togo’s border with Burkina Faso, killing 8 soldiers and wounding 13.
