Sylvanus Olympio served as the first president of Togo after its independence from France in 1960, embodying a vision of national unity and progressive reform. However, by January 1963, his administration faced growing discontent due to economic challenges and political opposition. On the morning of January 13, 1963, a coup d'état led by military officers, including Étienne Gnassingbé, initiated the tumultuous events that would forever change the course of Togo's history. Armed forces stormed the presidential palace in Lomé, the capital, culminating in the assassination of Olympio himself. Eyewitnesses reported chaos as soldiers clashed with loyalist forces loyal to Olympio, leading to a swift and violent alteration of power.

The coup was instigated by a combination of political maneuvering and longstanding grievances against Olympio's authoritarian leadership style. Supported by some sectors of Togolese society who craved change, the coup had clear backing from certain elements within the military, responding to longstanding frustrations about government corruption and inefficiency. The assassination of Olympio was a crucial turning point that resulted in his deputy, Gnassingbé, claiming the presidency, although intense political struggle continued in the ensuing years.

Togo entered a period of instability marked by military rule and repression, which saw the emergence of Gnassingbé’s one-party regime. The volatile political situation that followed underscored the fragility of democratic institutions in Togo and the wider region, leading to subsequent coups and civil unrest in West Africa as countries grappled with the challenges of post-colonial governance. Olympio's assassination amplified calls for reform within Togo and remains a pivotal moment in the nation's history.