Martyrs' Day (Togo)

Martyrs' Day is a public holiday in Togo observed on June 21 each year. The holiday commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for an independent and peaceful Togo.

Togo is a country in West Africa. In the 16th century, Europeans arrived the coastal region and began slave trading. Togo quickly became the major slave-trading center in the next 200 years and earned the region "The Slave Coast".

Germany claimed the territory as a protectorate in 1884 and became a German colony in 1905. During World War I, Britain and France invaded Togoland and proclaimed it the Anglo-French condominium. In 1922, the League of Nations mandated Britain to govern the western part of Togo, while France governed the eastern part.

After World War II, Togoland became the United Nations Trust Territory. British Togo joined Ghana in 1957, and the French Togoland became a republic within the French Community in 1959. On April 27, 1960, French Togo gained independence from France as the Togolese Republic.

Sylvanus Olympio became the first president in 1960 but was assassinated in the 1963 Togolese coup. Nicolas Grunitzky became the 2nd President of Togo, and Gnassingbe Eyadema overthrew him in the 1967 coup. Gnassingbe served as the 3rd President of Togo for 38 years until 2005.

Martyrs' Day is a holiday to remember those who died in the many military coups. The military parades are organized in Lome during the celebration.

The following is the list of Martyrs' Day in Togo from 2022 to 2026.

Please check more public holidays in Togo: