Dynasty begins

last updated 8 January 2015

Lome, Togo

Togolese students protested this week after the military installed the son of the late president in his father’s post. President Gnassingbe Eyadema died of a heart attack last week, at age 69, having ruled Togo in an effective dictatorship since 1967. Under the constitution, the parliament speaker—who was visiting Europe at the time—should have taken office. But instead, the military closed the borders, surrounded government buildings, and swore in Eyadema’s son, Faure Gnassingbe, as president. France and Britain, Togo’s former colonial rulers, urged that elections be held, but that appears unlikely. University students called for a “silent strike,” urging all Togolese to stay home from work.