1919-1955 - French Togoland
In 1946, Togo gained the status of associated territory of the French Union under United Nations trusteeship, and in 1956 became an autonomous republic within the framework of the Community and independent in 1960.
As early as August 1914, Togo was occupied by English and French troops. In 1919 it was divided between England and France. During the Great War, the Allies conquered the German colonies. They became territories under the mandate of the League of Nations, divided into four powers: Great Britain (Togo, Cameroon, Tanganyika), France (Togo, Cameroon), Belgium (Ruanda-Urandi) and The Union of South Africa (South West Africa).
The system of mandates was instituted by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. In 1919, the status of Togoland was settled - German Togoland was split, 60/40 in favor of France, and the two Togolands were (de jure) put under a League of Nations Mandate. The Milner-Simon agreement of 1919 set the new borders. Tribal or geographic considerations were not paramount.
The formal transfer of Lome to France followed in October 1920. In the North the area acquired by Britain included Yendi and adjoining districts, thus bringing the whole of the Dagomba country under British control. Of the total area of the German colony 13,500 sq. miles came under the British mandate and 20,200 sq. miles under the French mandate. The population, estimated (1920) at 1,250,000, some 850,000 lived in the French area. Europeans, mostly British and French officials and traders, numbered about 500. There was also an emergetic colony of Syrian traders. The railways fell within the French area. They consisted (1921) of a line from Lome N.E. to Atakparne, completed in 1911 and to 2 miles long; from Lome along the coast to Anecho (27 miles) and from Lome N.W. to Palime (74 miles).
The principal articles of commerce were products of the oil and coconut palms, cotton, maize, cocoa, live stock, rubber, sisal and other fibres. Of these the most important were palm oil and kernels. There is a considerable transit trade between the Gold Coast and Lome and between Anecho and Dahomey. Cotton yarns, textiles, hardware and building material were the chief imports.
In 1922 the League of Nations gave the two Powers a mandate of guardianship. Class B mandates were territories which had reached a less advanced stage of evolution, with the mandatory power to ensure the administration In the context of freedom of conscience and religion and subject to Of certain guarantees (Cameroon, Togo, Tanganyika, Ruanda- Urandi).
A Commissioner of the Republic was appointed by decree of 23 March 1921. The administration passed under the authority of the Lieutenant-Governor of Dahomey by decree of 23 November 1934. Togo reported directly to the Ministry of the Colonies until 1934, shared a common administration with Dahomey and was included in French West Africa in 1936.
The decree of 4 September 1935 on the general reorganization of the administration of Togo defines three circles and their subdivisions:
- The circle of the South (Lomé, Tsévié and Anécho)
- The circle of the Center (Atakpame and Palimé)
- The Northern circle (Sokode, Bassari, Lama-Kara and Mango).
The decree of 19 September 1836 places Togo under the authority of the Governor-General of French West Africa. The three circles are maintained by the reorganization of 2 July 1936 but their subdivisions change:
- The circle of the South (Lomé, Anécho and southern part of Klouto)
- The central circle (northern part of Klouto and Atakpamé)
- The circle of the North (Sokode and Sansanné-Mango).
The Mango circle was restored in 1937, Anécho in 1938, Klouto, Lomé and Atakpamé in 1939, Sokodé in 1940, Mango in 1942. The territorial organization of March 2, 1945, is as follows:
- The circle of Lomé (Lomé, Tsévié)
- The circle of Anécho
- The circle of Sokode (Sokode, Bassari and Lama-Kara).
- Lama-Kara was erected in a circle in 1950.
In 1945, the United Nations took over. The Charter of the United Nations, drawn up at San Francisco on June 26, 1945, created an international regime of trusteeship, which was to replace the system of mandates: France and Great Britain were designated as the authorities responsible for administering these two Territories.
The Administering Authority was to submit an annual report to the Trusteeship Council. This annual report covered the political, economic, administrative, social and financial situation. In addition to reviewing the reports of Trust Territories, the United Nations is also briefed on the exercise of the administration of Trust Territories, through visiting missions, which investigate on the spot, and receive petitions.
Togo became an Associated Territory of the French Union in 1946. The Delegation of Cameroon and Togo was established by Order of the High Commissioner No. 4,117 of 5 November 1946. This body [located at 26, rue de Murillo, Paris (8th)] constitutes an outside service in Haut- Office reporting directly to the Head of the Colony. In particular, it was responsible for following up with the various metropolitan organizations concerned, and particularly the Ministry of Overseas France, the development of cases concerning the establishment and execution of programs and proposals emanating from the Office of the High Commissioner in Yaoundé.
Of the French Republic responsible in particular for the application and regulation reserved for the central organs of the Republic: He was responsible for peace, good order, defense and good administration. Administration of the territory. It must guarantee the inhabitants of the territory the freedom Speeches, press and meetings.
At the end of February 1956 reforms took place, in order for Territories under French Overseas France to comply with the framework law of 23 June 1956. Togo opted for both the end of the trusteeship system and for an association with the French Republic. On August 30, 1956, Togo acquired the status of autonomous republic within the French Union. On 28 October 1956 the Togolese population consulted by referendum, approved this status. On 15 December, Mr Grunitzky formed the first ministry of the Autonomous Republic of Togo.
However, this development was not without disturbances, To independence, mainly with the "UPCiste" movement. On 13 July 1955, the UPC [Union of Cameroonian Populations] and its branches were officially prohibited. In December 1956, the UPC created an armed wing, the NOC (National Organizing Committee) and decides to switch to sabotage, hence an amnesty law to try to stop the activities of the UPC.
Togo's complete independence was proclaimed on April 27, 1960.
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