Togo is a west African country ruled by Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in power for 20 years, succeeding his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who chalked up nearly 38 years. In May 2025 Mr Gnassingbe stood down as president but had himself appointed by parliament as the head of a new body, paying lip service to relinquishing power while doing nothing of the sort.
The duke had a mind that ticked like a clock and, like a clock, it regularly went cuckoo.