Independence Monument
A view of the Independence Monument, celebrating Togo’s independence from France in 1960, located in Lomé.
French Togoland became an autonomous republic within the French Union on August 30, 1956. This status was confirmed through a plebiscite in October, despite opposition from the Ewe. The referendum was held under the supervision of the French. Nicolas Grunitzky was appointed as premier. Following United Nations efforts, elections in April 1958 favored complete independence and resulted in the defeat of Grunitzky’s Togolese Progress Party in favor of Sylvanus Olympio’s Togolese National Unity Party. Togo officially gained independence on April 27, 1960.

Following the 1961 elections, which established a presidential system, Olympio became Togo’s first president. He continued to maintain economic ties with France. Togo joined the Organization of African Unity (OAU, now the African Union) in 1963. In 1965, it also joined the renewed Joint African and Malagasy Organization, which aimed to foster economic, political, and social cooperation among French-speaking African countries.