President of Togo

The president of Togo, officially the president of the Togolese Republic, is the head of state of Togo. Although the role is mostly ceremonial today, the president holds some important duties. The current president is Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, who took office on 3 May 2025 and is the oldest president ever in Togolese history.

For most of Togo’s time as an independent country, the president had a lot of power over both domestic and foreign matters. However, in April 2024, Togo made changes to its government system. These changes reduced the president’s powers and shifted the country toward a more parliamentary system, making the role more symbolic.

Even with these changes, the president still serves as the commander-in-chief of the Togolese Armed Forces. The president also has the authority to appoint the leader of the government. Another big change was how presidents are chosen: instead of being voted in by citizens, they are now selected by Parliament.

Five people have served as president of Togo, not counting one acting president and two interim military leaders. One president, Faure Gnassingbé, served two separate times. His first term was after the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in February 2005, and his second term began later that same month and lasted until May 2025.

Description of the office

The president of Togo is chosen by a special group of leaders called an electoral college. This group includes members of the National Assembly and the Senate. The president serves for four years and can be chosen for a second term.

Before becoming president, a person must meet certain rules, like being over 50 years old and being a Togolese citizen by birth. The new president makes a special promise to follow the country's laws and work for the good of the people. If the president can no longer serve, the leader of the National Assembly takes over until a new election can be held.

Residences

After Togo became independent, the president used the Palace of the Governors as both an office and a home. This palace was used by leaders from Germany and France before Togo’s independence. In 1970, President Gnassingbé Eyadéma moved into a new Presidential Palace close to the old one. He also used another home called the Presidential Residence of Lomé II. In 2006, President Faure Gnassingbé opened a new Presidential Palace on the edge of Lomé, with help from China.

List of officeholders

Here are the political groups that have been involved with the leaders of Togo:

• Party of Togolese Unity (PUT)
• Togolese People's Movement (MPT)
• Rally of the Togolese People (RPT)
• Union for the Republic (UNIR)
• Pan-African Patriotic Convergence (CPP)

Some leaders have also come from the Military.

Special marks show extra information about how some leaders came to power or left office:

• ^§ means they were elected without any other candidates.
• ^P means there was a vote just for the president.
• ^† means the leader passed away while in office.

Timeline

The president of Togo is the head of state of the country. While the president has some important duties, the main power to run the government is held by the prime minister. As of May 3, 2025, the current president is Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové.

Latest election

Main article: 2025 Togolese presidential election

The most recent election for the president of Togo happened in 2025. The winner was Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, and he began his role as president on May 3, 2025. This election decided who would lead the country as its head of state.