Coat of arms of Togo
The coat of arms of Togo was adopted on 14 March 1962. Since this Togolese national symbol does not follows the rules of heraldry for a traditional coat of arms, then it could be considered a national emblem instead.
In the device, two standing red lions are to be seen, which symbolize the bravery of the people. Both lions are armed with bow and arrow, symbolizing a call for all citizens to be active in the defence of freedom of the country. Between the lions, a golden shield with the letters RT is displayed. Above it, the flag of Togo is displayed twice. On a ribbon stands Togo's motto: "Travail, Liberté, Patrie".
After Togo's 1991 National Conference, multiple versions of this emblem proliferated, even within the Togolese government. In June 2008, however, a Constitutional Court decision clarified which version was correct.
Official blazon
The coat of arms of the Republic of Togo consists of the following:- an oval escutcheon argent and a bordure vert, in chief the national emblem, two flags addorsed and the motto on a riband; in fess point, in sable, the initials of the Republic of Togo on background engrailed or; in base two lions addorsed gules;
- the two young lions are a symbol of courage of the Togolese people. They hold the bow and the arrow, traditional means of combat, to show that the true freedom of the Togolese people is in their own hands and their strength lies in their own traditions; the lions, upright and addorsed, express the vigilance of the Togolese people on the guard of their independence, from dawn until dusk.