Historical Events tagged with "lomé"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Politics & Government

Gnassingbé Eyadéma's Military Coup in Togo

April 14th, 1967 57 years ago

Gnassingbé Eyadéma, a military officer, staged a coup in Togo, overthrowing President Nicolas Grunitzky. The coup was carried out swiftly, with Eyadéma leading his troops to seize the presidential palace in Lomé. Grunitzky, who had been in power since 1963, was misjudged by Eyadéma's military forces. Following the successful takeover, Eyadéma proclaimed himself the new president and established a regime that would dominate Togo for nearly four decades.

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Politics & Government

Assassination of President Sylvanus Olympio

January 13th, 1963 62 years ago

Sylvanus Olympio, the first President of Togo, was assassinated during a coup d'état led by a group of military officers. The coup was marked by violence and led to the death of Olympio, who had been in power since Togo's independence from France in 1960. His presidency was characterized by efforts to establish a strong national identity and resistance to foreign interests. The overthrow of Olympio sent shockwaves through the nation, leading to a period of instability and military rule.

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