Lomé, Togo — After more than six decades under the Gnassingbé dynasty, a new wave of young Togolese activists, students, and professionals is mounting an unprecedented challenge to the status quo, calling for democratic reforms, political accountability, and a future beyond family rule.
Since independence in 1960, Togo has been dominated by a single family dynasty. The late Gnassingbé Eyadéma ruled the country for 38 years until his death in 2005, when power passed to his son, Faure Gnassingbé, who remains president today. This continuity has made Togo one of the longest-standing dynastic regimes in Africa.