It’s a familiar face making a comeback at the top of Togolese politics. Komi Selom Klassou, former Prime Minister and long-time heavyweight of the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, has been elected Speaker of the National Assembly. At 65, this trusted ally of Faure Gnassingbé returns to center stage—this time, as a key player in the country’s new parliamentary system.
A technocrat turned political pillar
Holder of a PhD in hydro-climatology and a former lecturer at the University of Lomé, Selom Klassou belongs to the generation of technocrats who have quietly shaped the Togolese state for decades.
He has served in several ministerial roles — including Culture, Youth and Sports, and later, Primary and Secondary Education — before being elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament in 2013 and subsequently appointed Prime Minister from 2015 to 2020.
Known for his discipline and loyalty, Klassou’s calm leadership helped maintain political stability during a period of economic and institutional reforms.
Steering a new institutional era
His election as Speaker comes amid a major institutional reshuffle, following the appointment of Kodjo Adedze to the government.
Since the constitutional reform of May 6, 2024, Togo has officially transitioned to a parliamentary system, placing the National Assembly and its president at the heart of national governance.
Klassou was elected unopposed and unanimously by lawmakers — a strong signal of continuity within the ruling majority.
The trusted hand of Faure Gnassingbé
Born on February 10, 1960, in Notsé (southern Togo), Klassou has spent his career within the state apparatus, earning a reputation as a loyal, methodical operator. Decorated as Commander of the Order of Mono, he has remained one of Faure Gnassingbé’s most trusted lieutenants.
His return to the helm of Parliament is widely seen as a move to ensure stability and institutional cohesion as Togo adapts to its new political framework.
