Togo’s capital is Lomé City. Lomé is located on the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic coast) at the country’s extreme southwestern corner. In 1897, German Togoland chose its colonial capital, which was myself. And grew to be an important administrative, commercial, and transportation hub.
A modern settlement was established, and a 1,380-foot (420-metre) jetty was constructed to ease raw material exports. Three railway lines extend from Lomé to the hinterland: northwest to Palimé, north to Sokodé. And east along the coast to Aného. Furthermore, modernization of the port began in the 1960s. And a Deepwater harbor, completed in 1968, can handle around three million tons of goods per year. This has tremendously aided the transportation of phosphates and other major exports like cocoa, coffee, copra, cotton, and palm products.
History of Togo’s capital
Lomé also has a global airport, a thermal power facility, and the Maison du Peuple, which is a meeting venue. The Université du Bénin was created in Lomé in 1965. In 1975, several notable summits were held in Togo’s capital, including the signing of the first Lomé Convention. Which established an assistance and trade pact between African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries and the EU. Population (2010 prelim.): 750,757; urban area: 1,348,619.
The name Togo derived from the Ewe language as “behind the river”. Between the 11th and 16th centuries, tribes reached the region: the Ewé from the west and the Mina and Gun from the east. The majority of them settled in coastal locations. Moreover, the Atlantic slave trade began in the 16th century, and for the next two centuries. The coastal region served as a trading center for Europeans looking for slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the nickname “The Slave Coast”.
During World War I, Britain and France invaded Togoland and established the Anglo-French republic. During World War I’s West African Campaign, the French and British successfully invaded the German territory of Togoland.
In August, the Allied forces overwhelmed German forces in the assault on the colony, resulting in its surrender on August 26th. The condominium dissolved on December 7, 1916, and Togoland was divided into British and French zones. Resulting in the creation of the colonies of British Togoland and French Togoland. Furthermore, on July 20, 1922, the League of Nations mandated Great Britain to manage the western portion of Togo and France to govern the eastern part.
In 1945, the country was granted the power to send three deputies to the French Assembly. After World War II, the UN designated these mandates as UN Trust Territories. In 1957, the population of British Togoland opted to join the Gold Coast as part of the independent nation of Ghana. What’s more, around 1959, French Togoland became an autonomous republic inside the French Union, with France retaining control over defense, foreign affairs, and economics.
Admitted into commonwealth
In June 2022, Togo joined the Commonwealth. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey predicted that Togo’s admission to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Furthermore, meeting in 2022 would provide new export markets, funding for development projects, and opportunities for Togolese citizens to learn English and access new educational and cultural resources.
Foreign connections
Togo maintains a non-aligned foreign policy, but it has historical and cultural connections to Western Europe, specifically France and Germany. Togo recognizes the People’s Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba. It resumed relations with Israel in 1987. Moreover, Togo maintains an active foreign policy and participates in international organizations. West African regional politics and the African Union are particularly involved with it. Togo signed the United Nations Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty in 2017. Togo and Gabon attended the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told Reuters that by entering the Commonwealth, the government hoped to strengthen its “diplomatic, political, and economic network” and “forge closer ties with the anglophone world.
Geographical location
The northward lying lagoon situated the commune of Lomé at its inception. The Atlantic Ocean to the south, the settlement of Bè to the east, and the Aflao border to the west. The Togolese Insurance Group (GTA) limits its expansion to the north, and it has expanded dramatically today. Furthermore, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, the oil refinery to the east, and the Togo-Ghana border to the west. The agglomeration covers 333 square kilometers, including 30 square kilometers of lagoon area.
Economy
Lomé, located 200 kilometers from Accra and 150 kilometers from Cotonou, features a major port, as well as a liberated area that opened in 1968. Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso export phosphates, coffee, cocoa, cotton, and palm oil. Most of this transit is handled on their behalf. The harbor also houses an oil refinery and, since 1989, a shipyard. In addition, the concession of two container ports to the Bolloré business resulted in police custody and Vincent Bolloré’s indictment in France in April 2018. The city manufactures building materials, including cement from the German company Heidelberg Cement. However, political instability that began in the 1990s and continues to this day has had a significant impact on the country’s tourism economy.
In 2003, the country welcomed 57,539 tourists, a 1% increase over 2002. 22% of tourists were from France, 10% from Burkina Faso, and 9% from Benin.
Architecture
The city center goes back to the early twentieth century. Some colonial architecture remains, notably as the Governors’ Palace and the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Which are built in the German neo-Gothic style. There are also many modern buildings such as the headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). In addition, the West African Development Bank (BOAD), the Togolese Bank for Trade and Industry (BTCI), the Economic Community of West African States (Eco WAS), or hotel buildings such as the Hotel de la Paix, the Mercure Sarakawa Hotel, the Palm Beach Hotel, or the famous Hotel du 2 Février, a modernist building mixing concrete and glass panels, culminating at 102 meters.
The Grand Marketplace is nearby, and it has a three-story hall. There are red peppers, limes, dried fish, combs, travel bags, and traditional herbal treatments. The first level has the famous “Nana Benz” kingdom, which sells a variety of loincloths created locally, in Europe, or in India. Furthermore, to the west of Togo’s capital lies a residential region with long arteries. Official buildings dot the face of the sea. Such as the Palace of Justice and different embassies and diplomats.
The headquarters of the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT). Located north of the Independence Monument, is also an important conference facility. More eccentric than the city center, Akodesséwa. Moreover, it is home to a considerably more specialized market than the major market, and for good reason: it is the fetish market. Here, you can find fetishes, gongons, and gray-gray.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you have the desire to explore parts of the world. And discover places you never knew existed, why not try Togo’s capital Lomé? In addition, for more information, you can visit our website to learn about Togo and where it is located. We will take you on a journey to see nature’s beauty and build memories.
