Kléber Dadjo

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Kléber Dadjo (1914–1979) served as Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee in Togo from 14 January 1967 to 14 April 1967 following the overthrow of President Nicolas Grunitzky's government.

Col. Kléber Dadjo, was born in Siou, Togo, on August 12, 1914. Col. Dadjo served in the British Army during World War II and in the French Army in the IndoChina and Algeria conflicts. At the time of Togo's independence in 1960, he was the longest-serving and highest-ranked Togolese in the French Army. He held the rank of Captain and commanded Togo's tiny defense force, the Garde Togolaise. He was promoted to Major and eventually to Lieutenant Colonel after the 1963 coup d'état and served as head of the military cabinet of President Nicolas Grunitzky. After the second military coup d'état on January 13, 1967, Dadjo was named interim President of Togo (as Chairman of the Comité National de Reconciliation), a position that he held until April 14, 1967, when Lt. Col. Gnassingbé Etienne Eyadéma was named President. From 1967 through 1968, he served as Minister of Justice. In 1969, he retired and returned to his home in Siou where he became Chef de Canton. It is widely reported that he died in 1979 but this is incorrect. He died after the mid-1980s. In 2006, Col. Dadjo was recognized by the government of President Faure Gnassingbé along with former Presidents Sylvanus Olympio and Nicolas Grunitzky as part of a decision to rehabilitate the image of Togo's previous leaders. The former avenue de la Nouvelle Marche in Lomé was renamed avenue Kléber Dadjo in his honor. Col. Dadjo is frequently and erroneously identified in print as a Kabyé rather than a Nawde (or Losso).

Heads of state of Togo
Sylvanus Olympio • Emmanuel Bodjollé • Nicolas Grunitzky • Kléber Dadjo • Gnassingbé Eyadéma • Faure Gnassingbé • Bonfoh Abbass† • Faure Gnassingbé † interim