Politics in Togo

Public authority in Togo operates through national institutions, courts, local governments, public administration, financial oversight and security services. The constitutional system combines a unitary state with decentralization, so national institutions and local authorities have distinct responsibilities. The President of the Council leads executive power, while the President of the Republic primarily represents national unity and performs defined constitutional functions under the post-2024 constitutional arrangement. Elections form the other major part of political life. Voters directly elect members of the Assemblée nationale, regional councils and municipal councils. The President of the Republic is elected indirectly by Parliament in Congress, and local councillors elect part of the Sénat. These different procedures mean that the office being filled determines who votes and how the result is produced. The Commission électorale nationale indépendante, known as CENI, organizes and supervises elections. Its work includes voter registration, candidate files, voting materials, accreditation and provisional results. Eligible Togolese citizens generally vote with a biometric voter card at the polling location linked to their residence. Understanding a political issue in Togo therefore requires distinguishing the responsible state institution, the level of government involved and whether the matter concerns direct voting, indirect election or electoral administration.