List of prime ministers of Togo explained

This is a list of prime ministers of Togo since the formation of the post of prime minister in 1960, to the present day.

A total of thirteen people have served as Prime Minister of Togo – twelve men and one woman. Among them, one person, Edem Kodjo, has served on two non-consecutive occasions.

The incumbent prime minister, Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, was appointed by president Faure Gnassingbé. She took the oath on 28 September 2020.

History of the office

1991 conflict with the presidency

In the months following the appointment of Joseph Kokou Koffigoh as prime minister by the National Conference on 27 August 1991,^[1] the soldiers of the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) loyal to President Gnassingbé Eyadéma repeatedly tried to oust Koffigoh:

• On 1 October 1991, the soldiers seized the national radio and television station and demanded that Koffigoh resign^{[1] [2]} before leaving the station; Koffigoh said afterwards on the radio that order was restored.^[2]
• On 8 October 1991, the soldiers unsuccessfully tried to kidnap Koffigoh, and four people were reported killed in protests and violence that followed.^[3]
• In late November 1991, the soldiers began a siege of Koffigoh's official residence in Lomé after Eyadéma's party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), was banned by the transitional High Council of the Republic (HCR).^[4] They demanded that Koffigoh's government be replaced and threatening to "reduce the city to ashes";^[5] they also demanded that the RPT be legalized again and that the HCR be dissolved.^[6] Koffigoh called for French military aid. Eyadéma publicly called on the soldiers to return to their barracks and expressed continued trust in Koffigoh, but also invited him to begin consultations on the formation of a new national unity government.^[5] After two days of talks, the soldiers lifted their siege;^[6] however, they promptly resumed it.^[7] Koffigoh then offered to include supporters of Eyadéma in the government, but he refused to dissolve his government altogether, and he again called for French aid.^[8] On 3 December 1991, the soldiers succeeded in capturing Koffigoh in a heavy assault on his official residence, involving tanks and machine guns. Many people were killed in this violence:^{[9] [10]} at least 17,^[9] and possibly more than 200.^[10] The soldiers then took Koffigoh to meet with Eyadéma,^[9] who was widely believed to have been behind the soldiers' actions, although he did not take responsibility for them. Later on the same day, Eyadéma released a statement saying that he and Koffigoh would form a new transitional government. Although Koffigoh remained in office, his power was considered curtailed.^[10] On 31 December, a new government headed by Koffigoh was announced, including three members of the RPT; most members of the previous government remained in their posts.^[4]

2024 Constitutional Reform

In March 2024, President Faure Gnassingbé has announced a new constitution. The proposed new constitution turns Togo from a presidential system to a parlimentary one, weakining the powers of the president, strengthning the powers of the prime minister, renaming the office the President of the Council of Ministers, and as well as giving the new role a maximum term of six years. The new constitution came into force in April 2024 after a vote in parliament.^[11]

Duties and competences

The president of the Republic appoints the prime minister. He terminates his functions.^[12]

The prime minister is the head of the Government. He directs the action of the Government and coordinates the functions of the other members. He presides over the Committees of Defense. He substitutes for, the case arising, the president of the Republic in the presidency of the Councils provided for in Articles 66 and 72 of this Constitution. He assures the interim of the head of the State in case of incapacity for cause of illness or of absence from the national territory.^[13]

Before his entry into office, the prime minister presents before the National Assembly the program of action of his Government.

The National Assembly accords its confidence to him by a vote with the absolute majority of its members.

The prime minister assures the execution of the laws.^[14]

He may delegate certain of his powers to the ministers.

The acts of the president of the Republic other than those provided for in Articles 4, 66, 68, 73, 74, 98, 100, 104 and 109 of this Constitution, are countersigned by the Prime Minister or, the case arising, by the Ministers given the charge of their execution.^[15]

List of officeholders

Political parties

Other factions

	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Political party	President(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Sylvanus Olympio	1960	1961		CUT	Himself
Post abolished (12 April 1961 – 27 August 1991)
2		Joseph Kokou Koffigoh	1991	1994		CFN	Eyadéma
3		Edem Kodjo	1994	1996		UDT
4		Kwassi Klutse	1996	1999		RPT
5		Eugene Koffi Adoboli	1999	2000		RPT
6		Agbéyomé Kodjo	2000	2002		RPT
7		Koffi Sama	2002	2005		RPT
Gnassingbé
Abass
Gnassingbé
			Edem Kodjo	2005	2006		CPP
	8		Yawovi Agboyibo	2006	2007		CAR
	9		Komlan Mally	2007	2008		RPT
	10		Gilbert Houngbo	2008	2012		Independent
	11		Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu	2012	2015		CPP
							UNIR
	12		Komi Sélom Klassou	2015	2020		UNIR
	13		Victoire Tomegah Dogbé	2020	Incumbent		UNIR

See also

• List of presidents of Togo
• List of colonial governors of Togo
• Politics of Togo

External links

• World Statesmen – Togo
• 1992 Constitution of Togo (as amended in 2007)

Notes and References

1. "Oct 1991 — Failure of coup attempts", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 37, October 1991, page 38,518.
2. "Effort to oust Togo's interim leader fails", Deseret News, 1 October 1991.
3. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DC113AF93AA35753C1A967958260 "4 Killed After Rebel Troops Fail to Kidnap Togo Premier"
4. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1D8143CF931A35752C0A964958260 "Togo Leader Adds to Cabinet to End Crisis"
5. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEEDE1038F933A05752C1A967958260 "France Moves Troops to Block Togo Coup"
6. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1DB123FF932A35751C1A967958260 "Soldiers abandon coup bid in Togo"
7. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1DE143CF931A35751C1A967958260 "Soldiers, Breaking Promise, Resume Palace Siege in Togo"
8. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDC143CF930A35751C1A967958260 "Togo's Prime Minister Proposes Compromise"
9. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE3DF1131F937A35751C1A967958260 "Rebels Seize Togolese Premier"
10. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE4DD1039F936A35751C1A967958260 "Despite a Coup, Togo's Reform Prime Minister Clings to Post"
11. Web site: Togo has adopted major constitutional changes to give parliament more power: how it will work. The Conversation. 1 May 2024.
12. Article 66 of the Constitution of 1992.
13. Article 78 of the Constitution of 1992.
14. Article 79 of the Constitution of 1992.
15. Article 80 of the Constitution of 1992.