Togo Country & Tourist Information

Location
West Africa.

Area
56,785 sq km (21,925 sq miles).

Population
5.1 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
89.81 per sq km.

Capital
Lomé.
Population: 732,000 (official estimate 2001).

Government
Republic since 1967. Gained independence from France in 1960. 
Recent history: When President Eyadema unexpectedly died in February 2005, the constitution was hastily changed and his son, Faure, initially assumed power. This was condemned both at home and by the international community and led to violent protests between rival political parties. Amid rising violence, Faure reluctantly stepped down and scheduled Presidential elections for April of that year. Against a backdrop of political violence and accusations of vote rigging and intimidation, Faure won the Presidential election and was sworn in as the new President in May 2005. However, the political situation remained tense with opposition parties calling for the appointment not to be recognized. Up to 500 people were killed in the political violence surrounding the Presidential poll, according to the UN. Around 40,000 Togolese fled to neighboring countries. The internal situation remains uncertain but there has been a sustained period of relative calm since then.

Language
French is the official language, while Ewe, Watchi and Kabiyé are the most widely spoken African languages. Very little English is spoken.

Religion
50 per cent traditional or animist, 35 per cent Christian and 15 per cent Muslim.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz single phase. Plugs are square or round two-pin.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Edem Kodjo.

Head of State
President Faure Gnassingbe since April 2005 (succeeded his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, after his death in February 2005).

Telephone
IDD is available to main cities. Country code: 228. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good around urban areas and patchy elsewhere.

Internet
Public access is available in Internet cafes all over the country.

Media
Freedom of the press is provided for in the constitution, but is not respected in practice. The major television channel is government-owned, as is the only daily newspaper and some of the private radio stations. Journalists writing for the private weeklies are subject to harassment and legal action. Several private radio and TV stations which had criticized the military-backed succession of Faure Gnassingbe as President were closed in 2005. Press offences cannot be punished by imprisonment.

Post
Postal facilities are limited to main towns. Airmail to Western Europe takes at least two weeks.

Press
The main newspaper is the government-owned Togo-Presse, published in French, Ewe and Kabiyé. Le Regard is an independent weekly.

Radio
Radio Lomé is a state-run radio station and Radio Zephyr is a privately-run station.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
13 Jan Liberation Day. 
31 Mar Mouloud (Anniversary of Buddha’s birthday).
9 Apr Easter Monday.
27 Apr Independence Day.
1 May Labor Day.
17 May Ascension.
28 May Whit Monday.
21 Jun Day of the Martyrs.
15 Aug Assumption.
24 Sep Anniversary of the Failed Attack on Lomé.
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
20 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
13 Jan Liberation Day. 
20 Mar Mouloud (Anniversary of Buddha’s birthday). 
24 Mar Easter Monday.
27 Apr Independence Day.
1 May Labor Day.
1 May Ascension. 
12 May Whit Monday.
21 Jun Day of the Martyrs.
15 Aug Assumption.
24 Sep Anniversary of the Failed Attack on Lomé.
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
9 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.


Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Office National Togolais du Tourisme (Togo National Tourist Office)
BP 1289, route d’Aného, Lomé, Togo
Tel: 215 662 or 214 313.
Website: www.togo-tourisme.com 

Embassy of the Republic of Togo in France
8 rue Alfred Roll, 75017 Paris, France
Tel: (1) 4380 1213.

Embassy of the Republic of Togo in the USA
2208 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 234 4212.


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