GENOCIDEWATCH

There has been political tension in Togo for decades, largely stemming from the relationships between the many ethnic groups. The largest ethnic group, the Éwé, live mainly in the south of Togo and are considered to be "savages" by the second largest ethnic group, the Kabyé people, who have dominated the military and authority roles for decades.  An Éwé president was assassinated in 1963 and, since then, Kabyé officials have held much of the power. In 2005, during a debated election where the former dictator's son, Faure Gnassingbé, was elected, 40,000 citizens fled the country. The family has had power for over 50 years. In the years since, Éwé dominated opposition parties advocating for reform have clashed with those in power leading to some deaths, torture, censorship, and hundreds of arrests.