1960 - Togo Joins the United Nations

On May 20, 1960, Togo became a member of the United Nations shortly after gaining independence from France on April 27 of the same year. Togo’s admission marked another milestone in the global wave of African decolonization sweeping the 1960s. As one of the first countries in West Africa to gain independence during this period, Togo\’s UN membership represented international recognition of Black self-governance and sovereignty. President Sylvanus Olympio, the nation’s first leader, envisioned Togo as a model for economic independence and anti-imperialist alignment. May 20 highlights a turning point where the voices of Black nations began to shift the geopolitical landscape, advocating for global equity, anti-racism, and non-alignment during the Cold War. The date symbolizes the rise of African nations as international actors shaping the global order—pushing not only for their own sovereignty but also for a more just and inclusive world.