Gnassingbe Eyadema President of Togo Country: Togo

1. Youth and Military Career
2. Independence and Political Beginnings
3. Military Role and Coups

Youth and Military Career

Gnassingbé Eyadéma was born in a small village near Kara, northern Togo. At the age of 18, he joined the French army. After nine months of training, he was deployed to Indochina for a year and a half. In 1954, he fought in Algeria.

Independence and Political Beginnings

Following the parliamentary elections organized by the Togolese government, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) emerged as the majority party in the National Assembly. General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, the party's founder and president, became the President of Togo.

Military Role and Coups

After returning to Lomé from military school, Eyadéma joined the Togolese army. He is believed to have played a leading role in the 1963 coup that overthrew President Olympio's government. In January 1967, the general led a second coup and became head of state.