Yearbook 2006
Togo. After the tumultuous and bloody change of power in
2005, when Faure Gnassingbé took over the presidential post
from his suddenly deceased father Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in
2006 a general desire for political reconciliation arose.
Symbolically, for the first time in four decades,
Independence Day was celebrated on the right date, not on
the anniversary of Eyadéma's takeover of 1967.
Following the mediation of Burkina Faso's President
Blaise Compaoré, the government and the opposition in August
signed an agreement to form a unity government and hold new
elections in 2007. According to
CountryAAH, the most important posts in the new
government went to the president's party, but the assignment
as prime minister was given to leading opposition politician Yawovi Agboyibo. The Union of Changing Forces, led by
fugitive Gilchrist Olympio, was offered four ministerial
posts but boycotted the government because it was not
allowed to appoint a prime minister. However, the unity
government won a hearing with the EU, which for the first
time since 1993 approved the payment of aid to Togo. In the
first half, the equivalent of about SEK 150 million was
allocated. for rural development projects.
Like most African countries, Togo is raised by China,
which has great interest in African commodities. A new
presidential palace, funded and built by China, was
inaugurated in April.
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