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Togo Names First Female Prime Minister

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Togo Names First Female Prime Minister
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The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, has named the first-ever female prime minister to head the government in the West African nation.

Naija News reports that the Togo President named 60-year-old Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, replaced Komi Selom Klassou on Monday, who resigned on Friday.

A close ally of President Gnassingbe, Dogbe has served as his chief-of-staff since 2009.

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Togo had been due for a government reshuffle since President Gnassingbe was reelected in February this year for a fourth term in office, but the changes were delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

President Gnassingbe’s election win, which came after a constitutional change allowing him to run, extended more than a half-century of dynastic rule by the Gnassingbe family over the former French colony. The victory was disputed by the main opposition challenger, who has faced official harassment in the wake of the vote.

The Togo President has led the West African country of eight million people since taking over in 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years.

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In a related development, Togo’s economy has been hit by the pandemic as the authorities have imposed restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.