In 1958, Togo voted in a referendum to become an autonomous republic within the French Union, and Sylvanus Olympio became Prime Minister.
Sylvanus Olympio was a prominent political figure in Togo and served as the leader of the Committee of Togolese Unity (Comité de l’Unité Togolaise, CUT), which advocated for independence from French colonial rule.
Two years later, on April 27, 1960, Togo formally gained independence from France, with Olympio becoming the country’s first President.
