Sylvanus Olympio
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Sylvanus Épiphanio Olympio was a Togolese politician who was prime minister, and then president, of Togo from 1958 until his assassination in 1963. He came from the important Olympio family, which inc
Olympio in 1961
Olympio (right) with U.S. President John F. Kennedy, 1962
Women mourning the murder of president Olympio
1963 Togolese coup d'état
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The 1963 Togolese coup d'état was a military coup that occurred in the West African country of Togo on 13 January 1963. The coup leaders — notably Emmanuel Bodjollé, Étienne Eyadéma and Kléber Dadjo —
Sylvanus Olympio
…further cemented when Togo achieved independence and he won the 1961 election, making him the first president of Togo. He was assassinated during the 1963 Togolese coup d'état. Sylvanus Olympio was born on 6 September 1902 in Kpandu in the German protectorate of Togoland, present-day Volta Region of Ghana. He was the grandson…
Étienne Eyadéma, who would become President of Togo from 1967 until 2005, was one of the major leaders of the 1963 coup.