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CHRONOLOGY-Events in Togo since independence

14 Oct 2007 11:50:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

Oct 14 (Reuters) - Togolese voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections which leaders of the small West African state hope will convince foreign donors that they have fully embraced multi-party democratic rule.

Here is a chronology of Togo since it gained independence in April 1960.

April 1961 - Sylvanus Olympio becomes first president after elections.

January 1963 - Olympio is assassinated in a coup led by Gnassingbe Eyadema, a young army officer. Four years later Eyadema proclaims himself president.

1969 - Eyadema declares the country a one-party state and founds the Rally of the Togolese People.

January 1972 - Togo votes overwhelmingly to keep Eyadema as president in a referendum.

1977 & 1986 - Coup attempts. Olympio's son Gilchrist is sentenced to death in absentia for his part in the 1986 bid.

December 1986 - Eyadema is re-elected for a 7-year term with 99.9 percent of the vote.

April 1991 - Togo approves creation of political parties and an opposition coalition of 10 parties is formed in May.

March 1993 - Another coup attempt.

August 1993 - Eyadema wins presidential election.

June 1998 - Disputed presidential poll, with Gilchrist Olympio saying he won. He contested vote from exile in Ghana. Authorities declared Eyadema the winner with 52.13 percent of the vote, against 34 percent for Olympio.

February 2001 - A U.N. and OAU report says Togolese security forces murdered and raped people after 1998 election.

December 2002 - Constitution changed to allow Eyadema to run for a third time. He wins 5-year term in office in June 2003.

Feb. 5, 2005 - Eyadema, Africa's longest-serving ruler, dies ending 38 years in power. Eyadema's son, Faure Gnassingbe, is named new leader by the army. The African Union says the move is unconstitutional. Parliament rubber stamps Gnassingbe's appointment the next day. Violent protests erupt, in which hundreds are killed.

Feb. 9 - West African leaders say the transfer of power amounts to a coup. They later impose "full sanctions".

Feb. 25 - AU suspends Togo. Gnassingbe agrees to step down and hold elections.

April 26 - Gnassingbe wins the April 24 presidential election after provisional results are announced.

-- Olympio's party rejects the result and calls for popular resistance. Further clashes between security forces and opposition youths in Lome kill around 30 and injure 150.

May 3 - Togo's constitutional court confirms Faure Gnassingbe as president with 60.15 percent of the vote.

Sept. 16, 2006 - President Gnassingbe appoints senior opposition figure, Yawovi Agboyibo, as prime minister, tasked with forming a new unity government to organise parliamentary polls and end decades of political division.

Oct. 14, 2007 - Togo holds multi-party parliamentary elections in which opposition parties participate.

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Last updated:Sun Oct 14 11:50:23 2007