Togo, a slender country in West Africa along the Gulf of Guinea, is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. Its history is rich and marked by diverse ethnic groups, most notably the Ewe, Mina, and Kabye peoples. European contact began in the late 15th century, with the Portuguese and other colonizers engaging in trade—much of it forced through the transatlantic slave trade. In 1884, Germany declared Togo a protectorate, laying the groundwork for administrative infrastructure and cash crop production until the territory was occupied by Franco-British forces during World War I. Following the war, Togo was divided into British and French administrative zones under League of Nations mandates. French Togo achieved independence in 1960 as the Togolese Republic. Since then, Togo has experienced periods of political instability, including long-term authoritarian rule under Gnassingbé Eyadéma from 1967 until his death in 2005. Today, Togo is a multiethnic nation that continues striving for democratic reforms and sustained economic development while drawing from its vibrant cultural heritage.