Togo’s prime minister, Komi Selom Klassou and his government have resigned from office.

 The West African nation’s presidency made this known late Friday, while President Faure Gnassingbe in a statement on his official website congratulated Prime Minister Klassou and his team for their “economic, political and social efforts and the encouraging results despite the health crisis around the world.”

Togo has been due for a political restructure since Gnassingbe was re-elected in February for a fourth term in office, but changes were delayed due to the corona virus pandemic. 

The president won the election after a constitutional change which allowed him to run, extending more than a half-century of dynastic rule over the former French colony by the Gnassingbe family.

The opposing party challenged the victory but the challenger faced official harassment in the wake of the vote.

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

Klassou has served as prime minister since 2015.