| Coat of arms of the Togolese Republic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | Togolese Republic |
| Adopted | 14 March 1962 (standardized June 2008) |
| Motto | "Travail, Liberté, Patrie" ("Work, Liberty, Fatherland") |
The coat of arms of Togo was adopted on 14 March 1962. Since this Togolese national symbol does not follows the rules of heraldry for a traditional coat of arms, then it could be considered a national emblem instead.
In the device, two standing red lions are to be seen, which symbolize the bravery of the people. Both lions are armed with bow and arrow, symbolizing a call for all citizens to be active in the defence of freedom of the country. Between the lions, a golden shield with the letters RT (République Togolaise) is displayed. Above it, the flag of Togo is displayed twice. On a ribbon stands Togo's motto: "Travail, Liberté, Patrie" (Work, Liberty, Homeland).[1][2]
After Togo's 1991 National Conference, multiple versions of this emblem proliferated, even within the Togolese government.[3] In June 2008, however, a Constitutional Court decision clarified which version was correct.[4]
- ^ Togolese constitution (1992) at UNHCR
- ^ Togolese constitution (2002) at African Legislatures Project Archived 2012-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Armoiries: voici le bon modèle!". République Togolaise. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 12 Jan 2012.
- ^ "A quelles armoiries se vouer?" (in French). République Togolaise. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2021.