The vote in the tiny west African nation was widely seen as a test for democracy in the region following a coup in Niger and violent protests over delayed polls in Ivory Coast. Sporadic demonstrations erupted in Togo's capital after the results of the vote were announced on March 6, although the protests were mostly peaceful.

Post-election violence in Togo's 2005 poll, which allowed Gnassingbe to succeed his father after nearly four decades of dictatorship, killed as many as 500 people.

Togo, a slither of land between Ghana and Benin, is a top producer of phosphate — an ingredient in fertiliser — and also relies heavily on cotton, coffee and cocoa production.