* French Colonization: In the late 19th century, Togo was colonized by France. The French established their administration and language as the official means of communication and governance.
* Language Imposition: French was enforced in schools, government, and public life. This limited the use of native languages and fostered the dominance of French.
* Post-Independence: Although Togo gained independence in 1960, French remained the official language. This was partly due to the established infrastructure and existing French-speaking elites.
* Economic & Educational Ties: France continued to have strong economic and educational ties with Togo, further solidifying the position of French as the primary language.
It's important to note that while French is the official language, Togo has a diverse linguistic landscape with several indigenous languages spoken throughout the country.