Eugène Koffi Adoboli (3 October 1934 – 23 April 2025) was a Togolese politician. He was

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Togo Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to Ghana–Togo border, the west, Benin to Benin–Togo border, the east and Burkina Faso to Burkina Faso–Togo border, the north. It is one of the le ...

from 21 May 1999 to 31 August 2000. In 2011 he was sentenced to five years in jail in absentia stemming from an

embezzlement Embezzlement (from Anglo-Norman, from Old French ''besillier'' ("to torment, etc."), of unknown origin) is a type of financial crime, usually involving theft of money from a business or employer. It often involves a trusted individual taking ...

scandal while he was Prime Minister.

Life and career

Adoboli was named Prime Minister on 21 May 1999, replacing

Kwassi Klutse Kwassi Klutse (29 July 1945 – 19 May 2024) was a Togolese politician who was the prime minister of Togo from 20 August 1996 to 21 May 1999. Life and career Klutse was born in Agbélouvé, French Togoland (now in Zio Prefecture) on 29 July 1 ...

. He had previously been an international civil servant at the

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations Secretariat that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade. It was established in 1964 by the United Nations General Assembl ...

(UNCTAD) in

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

and the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit for over 40 years. At the time of his appointment by President

Gnassingbé Eyadéma Gnassingbé Eyadéma (; born Étienne Eyadéma Gnassingbé, 26 December 1935 – 5 February 2005) was a Togolese military officer and politician who served as the third president of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005, after which he was immed ...

following the March 1999 parliamentary election, Adoboli was virtually unknown in Togolese politics. During his tenure, Adoboli faced criticism of his inability to improve Togo's economic position. On 7 April 2000, the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

"Millennium Report" was officially launched in

Lomé Lomé ( , ) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities in Togo, largest city of Togo. It has an urban population of 837,437

, personally sponsored by Adoboli and Cécile Molinier, the UN coordinator in Togo. Adoboli praised the report, stating, "And it was with the same attention that the President welcomed the Secretary-General's projects aimed at creating a 'world free from fear'." Adoboli met with Secretary General of the United Nations

Kofi Annan Kofi Atta Annan (8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founder a ...

on 9 July 2000. On 27 August 2000, Adoboli resigned as prime minister and Eyadéma accepted his resignation. Togolese Communication Minister

Koffi Panou Koffi Panou (January 31, 1947 – March 15, 2003

announced the move, which came a day after the legislature conducted a vote of no confidence against his government."Le président togolais accepte la démission du Premier ministre Koffi Adoboli"
Xinhua, 28 August 2000 . Eyadéma appointed

Agbéyomé Kodjo Messan Agbéyomé Gabriel Kodjo (12 October 1954 – 3 March 2024) was a Togolese politician who served as Heads of Government of Togo, Prime Minister of Togo from 29 August 2000 to 27 June 2002. Life and career Kodjo was born in Tokpli, now in ...

to replace Adoboli on 29 August. Adoboli moved to Switzerland in 2002. He delivered a keynote speech to the World Meteorological Association in April 2010, encouraging the organization to improve climate information and climate services to African people and governments to reduce the impacts of natural disasters caused by climate change. Adoboli urged African countries to come together to face the looming climate issues. In 2011, he was accused of embezzling 800 million CFA francs in a construction project in Lomé in 1999 while he was prime minister. The villas were intended to be used by leaders at a summit of the

Organisation for African Unity The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; , OUA) was an African intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments. Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and ec ...

. In July, he was one of three individuals sentenced to five years in prison ''

in absentia ''In Absentia'' is the seventh studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released on 24 September 2002. The album marked several changes for the band, with it being the first with new drummer Gavin Harrison and the f ...

'' for his role in embezzling the funds. Adoboli denied the accusation, stating, "At no time have I dipped into the accounts of the Togolese government. This judgement borders on the ridiculous and does not honour our country." Instead, he insisted that Togo owed him money. Adoboli died while in exile in Switzerland, on 23 April 2025, at the age of 90.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adoboli, Eugene Koffi 1934 births 2025 deaths Prime ministers of Togo Heads of government who were later imprisoned 20th-century Togolese politicians People convicted in absentia