Togo Travel Guide

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Country Facts

Location

West Africa.

Language

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

Area

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

Time Zone

GMT.

Electricity

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

Population

6.6 million (2009).

Population Density

116 per sq km.

Capital City

Lomé. Population: 746,000 (2009).

Government

Republic since 1967. Gained independence from France in 1960.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo since 2008.

Head of State

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

Religion

50% traditional or animist, 35% Christian and 15% Muslim.

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 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.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +228. There are no area codes. IDD is available to main cities.

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 cafés 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 offenses cannot be punished by imprisonment. The main newspaper is the government-owned Togo-Presse, published in French, Ewe and Kabiyé.

Post

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

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
13 Jan Liberation Day
15 Feb Mouloud (Anniversary of the Prophet’s birthday)
22 Apr Easter Monday
27 Apr Independence Day
2 May Labor Day
13 Jun Whit Monday
21 Jun Day of the Martyrs
15 Aug Assumption
30 Aug - 31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
24 Sep Anniversary of the Failed Attack on Lomé
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Nov - 7 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
13 Jan Liberation Day
4 Feb Mouloud (Anniversary of the Prophet’s birthday)
9 Apr Easter Monday
27 Apr Independence Day
1 May Labor Day
28 May Whit Monday
21 Jun Day of the Martyrs
15 Aug *Assumption
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
24 Sep Anniversary of the Failed Attack on Lomé
25 Oct Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
*Date to be confirmed.
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: (01) 4380 1213.

Embassy of the Republic of Togo in the USA

2208 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 234 4212.