President of Togo. He was the longest ruling president in an African country, serving 38 years. Eyadema was a former Togolese French Foreign Legion officer, serving in Indochina, Dahomey, Niger, and Algeria. He was of Kabiye descent. Togo is a small coastal west African country, which ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world. Since January of 1967, he ruled Togo, after coming to power following Africa's first post-colonial coup in 1963, which was a nonviolent coup. Continuing his brutal dictatorship, he was elected to the presidency of Togo in one-party elections held in 1979 and 1985. Hundreds of citizens were arrested for going against him, and many were executed. Amending the country's constitution, he abolished term limits and was re-elected in 2003. He was considered one of Africa's last "Big Men," surviving assassination attempts, a plane crash, international isolation and uprisings. Eyadema suffered a heart attack in his home town of Pya, Togo on February 5, 2005 and died on his way to Europe for treatment. His son Gnassingbe Faure was declared Togo's new president to avoid a complete vacuum of power in the country and later was elected president, being sworn in on May 4, 2005.
President of Togo. He was the longest ruling president in an African country, serving 38 years. Eyadema was a former Togolese French Foreign Legion officer, serving in Indochina, Dahomey, Niger, and Algeria. He was of Kabiye descent. Togo is a small coastal west African country, which ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world. Since January of 1967, he ruled Togo, after coming to power following Africa's first post-colonial coup in 1963, which was a nonviolent coup. Continuing his brutal dictatorship, he was elected to the presidency of Togo in one-party elections held in 1979 and 1985. Hundreds of citizens were arrested for going against him, and many were executed. Amending the country's constitution, he abolished term limits and was re-elected in 2003. He was considered one of Africa's last "Big Men," surviving assassination attempts, a plane crash, international isolation and uprisings. Eyadema suffered a heart attack in his home town of Pya, Togo on February 5, 2005 and died on his way to Europe for treatment. His son Gnassingbe Faure was declared Togo's new president to avoid a complete vacuum of power in the country and later was elected president, being sworn in on May 4, 2005.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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