As unrest in the small, West African nation of Togo has continued, the CCD has watched with particular concern. With the recent condemnations by the European Union, African Union, and by the United States of the Togolese military's role in the new President's ascension, one hopes the crisis will come to a quick resolution. Some key articles pertaining to the national crisis in Togo:

• Why Togo Matters May 10, 2005
• United States Calls for Government of National Unity in Togo May 5, 2005
• Togo: Africa’s Democratic Test Case April 19, 2005
• Togolese Interior Minister raises concerns about April 24 Presidential election
• United States State Department Statement on Resignation of Interim President and Elections in Togo
• United States State Department Statement on Situation & Imposition of Sanctions on Togo
• United States State Department Statement on the Death of President Eyadema
• International Reaction to the Togolese Transition Process
• See Togo's freedom ratings in Freedom House's 2004 report.

Crisis Summary & Updates:

The tiny West African nation of Togo achieved its independence from France on April 27, 1960. Following two failed "presidencies", the nation's second military coup since independence installed General Gnassigbe Eyadéma as the Tongolese Republic's President. During the 1990s, Togo held its first multiparty elections, though in the eyes of most of the world the elections were a "farce". Togo has been plagued by political unrest since Eyadema's election in 1967, and his many suppression efforts have lead to international condemnation for human rights abuses. Eyadema's role as Africa's longest-serving head of state ended with his death on February 5, 2005, leaving a void in which the military quickly closed the borders and declared his son, Faure Eyadéma (also known as Faure Gnassingbe), President. This action was met with a good deal of debate, both internally and around the world, as Togo's constitution declares that, in the case of the president's death, the Speaker of Parliament is to take his place, and an election called within sixty days. On February 6th, the Parliament altered the Constitution, allowing Faure to maintain the Presidency until the expiration of his father's term in 2008, at which point elections must be called. (Mr. Faure , addressing the Parliament, said: "Togo is engaged without reserve in the democratic process, which I will pursue to its logical conclusion.") February 7, 2005, saw Mr. Eyadema sworn in as President, despite strong international criticism. The African Union, of which Togo is presently a member, has described Faure's ascension as a "military coup-d'état, and his appointment has been roundly criticized around the globe.

• April, 2005: Officials in Togo say that preliminary results of the presidential poll indicate the election of Faure Gnassingbe. However, the election is tarnished by deadly street violence between rival supporters.
• Feb. 28, 2005: Gnassingbe steps down as installed President; deputy Speaker of the Parliament appointed interim President before elections in sixty days.
• Feb. 14, 2005: Opposition groups call for protest and strikes in response Eyadema's Presidency. Demonstrators throwing stones on February 12 were sprayed with tear gas, as well as live ammunition, by security forces,resulting in three protestor deaths. Peaceful protestors on Friday were also sprayed with tear gas, and schools and shops remain closed in opposition areas of the capital. President Gnassingbe condemned the protest and applauded the actions of the police to quelling the demonstrations. BBC News, 2/14/05 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4263357.stm
• Feb. 8, 2005: The African Union's Peace and Security Council called Faure Gnassingbe's ascent to the presidency "a blatant and unacceptable violation of the Togolese constitution." The United States, Britain, and France also issued strongly-worded calls for new elections in Togo today.
• Feb. 6, 2005: Reacting to criticism of the military's appointment of the President, the Parliament of Togo amended the national constitution, permitting their previous President's son to hold the Presidency until 2008, the end of his father's term.
• Feb. 5, 2005: Gnassingbe Eyadema, President of Togo and the longest-serving ruler in Africa, died today at 69, reportedly of a heart attack. Immediately following his death, authorities closed all the nation's borders.