Yearbook 2008
Togo. The government that took office at the end of 2007 after the general election resigned in September. The reason for the departure was that the government fulfilled its mission of consolidating the nation, laying the foundations for growth and development, improving access to basic community services and confirming Togo’s place in the international community. The government came after seemingly honest attempts to create reconciliation in the country, hard-fought by decades of dictatorship. It was therefore surprising that no opposition representatives had been prepared for it.
Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, an economist with a successful career in the UN development agency UNDP, was appointed as new Prime Minister. For his countrymen, however, he was fairly unknown and the appointment was surprising. Nor was the opposition invited to participate.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER: Click to see the meanings of 2-letter acronym and abbreviation of TG in general and in geography as Togo in particular.
Economy
| Inflation rate | -0.70% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% |
| Gross domestic product (GDP) | $ 12,970,000,000 |
| GDP growth rate | 4.40% |
| GDP per capita | 1,700 USD |
| GDP by sector | |
| Agriculture | 28.80% |
| Industry | 21.80% |
| Service | 49.80% |
| State budget | |
| Revenue | 392.3 million |
| Expenditure | 452.3 million |
| Proportion of the population below the national poverty line | 32% |
| Distribution of household income | |
| Top 10% | 27.1 |
| Lower 10% | 3.3 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 7.10% |
| Investment volume | 18.2% of GDP |
| National debt | 75.70% of GDP |
| Foreign exchange reserves | $ 215,100,000 |
| Tourism | 2014 |
| Number of visitors | 282,000 |
| Revenue | $ 233,000,000 |
Population 2008
According to Countryaah reports, the population of Togo in 2008 was 6,421,568, ranking number 104 in the world. The population growth rate was 2.730% yearly, and the population density was 118.0673 people per km2.
Following strikes and violent protests, in April 1991 the government promised the legalization of political parties; a National Conference, which opened in July and made up of representatives of state bodies, political parties and religious and professional groups, proclaimed its sovereignty by revoking the Constitution of 1980. Despite Eyadéma’s attempts not to recognize its authority, the Conference continued to operate by declaring the ruling party (RPT) dissolved and electing JK Koffigoh, former president of a human rights organization, as prime minister of a transitional government. Faced with repeated attempts by the armed forces to regain control of the country, Koffigoh, supported by large street demonstrations, appealed to the President of the French Republic to obtain military intervention in his favor (November 1991). French troops were sent to neighboring Benin, but on 3 December a new coup attempt led to the capture of Koffigoh after a violent armed confrontation. In the same month of December, however, a compromise was reached on the basis of which the RTP was reconstituted and a government of national union was created including, besides Koffigoh, also men close to Eyadéma. In the first half of 1992 the new government, which had announced and then postponed the general political elections, had to oppose a broad opposition led by the but on 3 December a new coup attempt led to the capture of Koffigoh after a violent armed confrontation. In the same month of December, however, a compromise was reached on the basis of which the RTP was reconstituted and a government of national union was created including, besides Koffigoh, also men close to Eyadéma. In the first half of 1992 the new government, which had announced and then postponed the general political elections, had to oppose a broad opposition led by the but on 3 December a new coup attempt led to the capture of Koffigoh after a violent armed confrontation. In the same month of December, however, a compromise was reached on the basis of which the RTP was reconstituted and a government of national union was created including, besides Koffigoh, also men close to Eyadéma. In the first half of 1992 the new government, which had announced and then postponed the general political elections, had to oppose a broad opposition led by the Collectif de l’opposition démocratique, a new formation that brought together the trade unions and about twenty-five political organizations. In a climate of open and violent repression of the opposition, on 27 September 1992 a new Constitution establishing a multi-party regime was approved by referendum and general political elections were once again promised, and once again postponed.
1993 was marked by the worsening of the crisis that led Western countries to suspend aid to Togo due to the open violation of human rights, while, with mixed results, talks were held in Burkina Faso between the government and representatives of the opposition. Only in February 1994, albeit in a climate marked by violence and incidents, did the general political elections take place, which led to the narrow victory of the two main opposition parties. After further conflicts, in May 1994, a coalition government led by E. Kodjo, one of the main opposition leaders, and also formed by Eyadéma’s party, was established. In September 1994, France announced the resumption of civilian and military aid.