after togo's independence from france, general gnassingbé eyadéma became the military leader. when eyadéma died in 2005, his son faure gnassingbe became president. during his re-election campaign, he helped get port concessions in lomé extended for bolloré groupe from 10 to 35 years in exchange for help from the group's public relations subsidiary havas. in a 26 feb 2021 civil hearing at the paris judicial court, french billionaire vincent bolloré, along with associates gilles alix and jean-philippe dorent, pleaded guilty to corrupt practices in togo. the president of the court rejected the negotiated plea bargain and ordered that the three be tried in criminal court. in the same trial, bolloré se was fined $12 million.