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Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has reshuffled his government, appointing a diplomat to the security ministry, according to a decree.

Calixte Madjoulba, Togo's ambassador to several countries including France since 2010, replaces General Damehame Yark, minister of security and civil protection since July 2012, according to the decree read late Friday on state television.

The latter is appointed minister of state, minister of water, and village hydraulics.
A total of eight ministries were affected by the reshuffle.

Minister of Territorial Administration Payadowa Boukpessi -- one of Gnassingbe's loyalists -- was dismissed and replaced by Colonel Hodabalo Awate, current prefect of Agoe-Nyive, which brings together six communes of Lome.

No reason was given for the reshuffle, but the decision comes as Togolese are preparing for legislative and regional elections this year.

No date has yet been announced for the elections, but the Togolese president said they will be held this year.

The last legislative elections date back to 2018, a vote boycotted by the main opposition parties, who denounced "irregularities".

Gnassingbe came to power in 2005 after the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years. He has since been re-elected in elections that were all contested by the opposition.