President of Togo

39-year old Faure Gnassingbe was born in 1966 to President Eyadema from the north of Togo, and a mother, Madam Bolouvie who hails from Afagnan in south Togo.

Faure Gnassingbe has never been in the public limelight. But soon after his father's death on the 5th of February 2005, he has enjoyed a meteoric rise from total obscurity to the prominence of the highest office in Togo.

As a result, controversy has placed him squarely on the front page of the Togolese National Agenda.

Faure Gnassingbe stands at medium height and wears a solemn meditative look that enhances a powerful presence. With large, round, charming penetrating eyes, his attractive innocent looks must be a typical photographer's delight.

To say the least, Faure Gnassingbe is a handsome young man who carries himself with deliberate measured steps, anticipating not to step on other people's toes. Unfortunately, he stepped on many political toes by accepting to be made Interim Head of State.

Like his father, Faure Gnassingbe is a man of very few words. He hardly utters a word in public unless official duties oblige him to do so. But beneath the soft appearance lies a resolute and firm defiant personality.

His admirers say he has the patience of a good listener, the attentive ears of an Eyadema and the sealed lips of Gnassingbe.

In June 2002, Faure made his first baptism of fire into Togolese politics when he stood for Parliamentary elections as a candidate of the ruling Togo Peoples Rally in Blitta constituency in central Togo. He beat his opponent hands down.

Following his victory at the parliamentary polls, President Eyadema appointed Faure Gnassingbe Minister for Telecommunications, Mines and Equipment, a post he has held until political greatness was thrust suddenly upon him by the military and destiny on Saturday, February 5, 2005.

An astute strategist, Faure on Sunday 24 hours after his father death, manoeuvred to get the Togo Parliament to elect him and legalise his position as the new Speaker at an extraordinary session in replacement of his friend and ally, Fanbare Natchaba who was out of the country.

Some observers say that President Eyadema had been secretly preparing Faure to master the ropes of political leadership in Togo.

His critics say that President Eyadema caused the eligible age for presidential candidates to be lowered from 40 to 35 years in his favour when the ruling RPT party-dominated parliament unilaterally amended the Togo constitution in December 2002.

Faure Gnassingbe has brilliant academic credentials. He received his university education in Paris Dauphine, from where he graduated in management, Economics, and International relations.

From there, he proceeded to the United States of America from where he obtained an MBA from the George Washington University.

Faure Gnassingbe has accompanied his late father on numerous international diplomatic assignments. Until he assumed public office, he has been responsible for managing his late father's estate.

He is also reported to have played no mean role in recent negotiations between Togo and the European Union, following President Eyadema's pledge last April 14, 2004 to the EU to carry out more democratic reforms in Togo.

The former Speaker of the Togolese Parliament has a high esteem of Faure. He says, "Faure was active in all the meetings with the EU in Brussels during the crucial negotiations and his contributions were marvelous."

One of his first political mistakes is that he accepted to be invested into office as Interim President by the Togo Armed Forces in violation of the constitution after his father's sudden passing away.

But he has also demonstrated a rare character trait of listening to the popular and International opinion asking him to step down honourably from the post of Interim Head of State.

"I have learnt two important lessons from my father when he was alive. And that is if you want to be a good leader, sometimes you must accept all things, even if it means suffering humiliation in the superior national interest," he declared after he stepped down from the post of Interim President in respect for public and international opinion.

"That political quality which is rare in Africa has won him many hearts in Togo, and the sub-region," says a West African Diplomat.

"Only a fool does not change his mind," Faure Gnassingbe told journalists in Lome.

Certainly, Faure Gnassingbe is not a political fool. And the next few weeks may prove him right or wrong.