Lomé, Togo – Togo has officially entered a new political era with the appointment of Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové as President of the Republic on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Nominated by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, Savi de Tové’s appointment marks a key step in the implementation of the recently established Fifth Republic.
Parliament, convened in a special Congress, unanimously approved Savi de Tové’s nomination with 150 votes in favor. He will serve a four-year term, renewable once.
This election also signals the return to prominence of a significant figure from Togo’s political opposition. Earlier in the day, former President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé was appointed Prime Minister, assuming the primary executive responsibilities under the new constitutional framework.
Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, at 85 years old, brings a wealth of experience to the presidency. A former minister and Sorbonne-educated political scientist, he has long advocated for dialogue, stability, and ethical governance. His history includes imprisonment as a political prisoner in 1979, participation in the 1991 Sovereign National Conference, and a sustained commitment to civil society, lending him considerable moral authority. He has been out of active political office for several years.
In this largely honorary but symbolic role, President Savi de Tové is expected to represent national unity, while the Prime Minister will oversee the country’s economic and strategic affairs. This unprecedented and ambitious arrangement aims to foster political stability and enhance Togo’s attractiveness to international investors.
