Togo

As Togo prepares for the legislative and regional elections on April 29, 2024, a significant number of women are in the electoral race, defying traditional norms and expectations.

With 2,348 validated candidacies for the legislative elections and 113 seats up for grabs, some 593 women are in the running for parliament and 438 women for the regional elections, according to figures obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians, Togo section (REFAMP-Togo) held a General Assembly on September 6, 2023. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Tomegah-Dogbe.

Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe on Monday named the first-ever female prime minister to head the government in the West African nation.

Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, 60, replaces Komi Selom Klassou, who resigned on Friday.

A close ally of the president, she has served as his chief-of-staff since 2009 and held several ministerial positions since 2008, including recently that of development minister, and also chief of staff of the president's office.

For the first time in Togo’s history, the national assembly will be presided by a woman: Yawa Tsegan Djigbodi is the new president of this assembly.

She is replacing Dama Dramani, president of the former mandate during which she was the first quaestor.