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 France |  Togo |
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France–Togo relations are thediplomatic relations between theFrench Republic and theTogolese Republic. Both nations are members of theOrganisation internationale de la Francophonie and theUnited Nations.
DuringWorld War I, French and British troops invaded the German colony ofTogoland as part of theTogoland campaign. As part of aLeague of Nations mandate, the British and French partitioned Togoland among themselves andFrance acquired the eastern-part of the territory which makes-up present-day Togo.[1] In 1955, French Togoland became an autonomous republic within theFrench Union.
In May 1956,British Togoland held aplebiscite and a majority of residents voted to integrate their territory into soon-to-be-independentGhana.[2]
In 1958,Sylvanus Olympio became Prime Minister of Togo and led the nation towards its independence. In October 1958 the French government announced that full independence would be granted. On 27 April 1960, Togo became an independent nation and France and Togo soon established diplomatic relations. Olympio became the first President of Togo.
Immediately after obtaining independence, Togo came under the French sphere of influence known asFrançafrique. In January 1963, Olympio was assassinated in acoup d'état.[1] That same year, France and Togo signed a mutual defense agreement. Under the pact French military intervention is authorized in the event of aggression from another country.[3] In November 1963, Togolese PresidentNicolas Grunitzky paid a state visit to France and met with PresidentCharles de Gaulle.[4]
In September 1986, Togolese PresidentGnassingbé Eyadéma appealed for help from the French government due to an impending coup d'état when some 50 armed men tried to take over his government. France sent 150 French parachutists which were flown in from a French military base inBangui,Central African Republic. A French mine sweeper and four jet fighters were also sent to Togo.[5] Togo had charged that the raiders came from neighboring Ghana.[4] President Gnassingbé Eyadéma remained in power until February 2005.
In 1993, France, along withGermany and theUnited States suspend aid to press for democratic reforms in Togo.[1] In July 1999, French PresidentJacques Chirac paid a visit to Togo. During his visit, he met with President Eyadéma and promoted trade, development and democracy in the country.[6] In May 2005,Faure Gnassingbé succeeded his father as President of Togo.
In October 2016, French Prime MinisterManuel Valls paid a visit to Togo to support democratic change and strengthen trade ties between both nations.[7] In April 2021, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé paid a visit to France and met with PresidentEmmanuel Macron.[8]
There are direct flights betweenLomé andParis withAir France.
In 2017, trade between France and Togo totaled €305 million Euros.[9] France's main exports to Togo include: food and drink, medicine, fertilizers, perfumes, vehicles and hi-tech products. Togo's main exports to France include: refined petroleum, engine parts and soybeans.[10][9]
French multi-national companies such asBolloré,Électricité de France andTotalEnergies operate in Togo. French subsidiaries in Togo employ over 2,200 people.[9]
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