President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe has named the first-ever female prime minister to head the government in the West African nation.

Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, 60, was appointed to replace Komi Selom Klassou, who resigned on Friday, September 25.

Dogbe, who is a close ally of the president, has served as his chief-of-staff since 2009.

Togo had been due for a government reshuffle since Gnassingbe was reelected in February for a fourth term in office, but the changes were delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The president’s election win, which came after a constitutional change allowing him to run, extended more than a half-century of dynastic rule by the Gnassingbe family over the former French colony.

The victory was disputed by the main opposition challenger, who has faced official harassment in the wake of the vote.

The president has led the country of eight million people since taking over in 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years.