Faure Gnassingbe was sworn in on Wednesday as Togo's new president, succeeding his father who died suddenly after ruling the west African country for nearly four decades.

Faure ran as the candidate for the ruling Rally for the Togolese People (RTP).

The army quickly installed him as president hours after his father's death, but international outrage and domestic protest forced him to step down two weeks later.

Faure's winning the April 24 presidential election had sparked clashes between security forces and outraged opposition supporters who claimed massive fraud in the poll, leaving at least 22 dead nationwide and some 18,500 refugees flowing to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

The 39-year-old son of late president Gnassingbe Eyadema was his father's financial adviser, running the family's economic interests, particularly abroad.

Faure received his university education at Sorbonne, Paris from where he graduated in management, economics, and international relations and he proceeded to the United States obtaining a master degree in business administration.

In June 2002, Faure Gnassingbe faced his first political litmus test when he stood for parliamentary elections on the platform of the RTP in Blitta constituency in central Togo. He won effortlessly.

Following his victory at the parliamentary polls, his father, who had earlier lowered the age for presidential aspirants to accommodate Faure, also appointed him minister for telecommunications, mines and equipment. He was in that position when providence thrust the presidency his way after his father died.

He has promised to preserve his father's legacy of peace and security and has pledged more jobs for young people.

Source: Xinhua