Nicolas Grunitzky

president of Togo

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June 29, 2026

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Nicolas Grunitzky served as premier of French Togoland in 1956 and later became president of Togo. He was invited back from exile to assume the presidency after the assassination of Sylvanus Olympio in 1963. Grunitzky's presidency was marked by instability, exacerbated by ethnic tensions between the predominantly northern administration and the southern Ewe population. His tenure ended when Lieutenant Colonel Étienne Gnassingbé Eyadéma seized power in a coup on January 13, 1967. Togo gained independence from France on April 27, 1960.12

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Togo
Independence
Nicolas Grunitzky was appointed premier. Following UN representations, elections in April 1958 favoured complete independence and rejected Grunitzky’s Togolese Progress Party in favour of Sylvanus Olympio’s Togolese National Unity Party. Togo became independent on April 27, 1960.
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Nicolas Grunitzky was appointed premier. Following UN representations, elections in April 1958 favoured complete independence and rejected Grunitzky’s Togolese Progress Party in favour of Sylvanus Olympio’s Togolese National Unity Party. Togo became independent on April 27, 1960.
Read More