International Reaction to the Togolese Transition Process

• Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations:
  1. On the recent violence in Lome resulting in the deaths of three protestors, Mr. Annan urged all parties “to exercise maximum restraint while efforts continue to find an early and peaceful solution to the country’s current crisis” (UN News Service Feb 12)
     
  2. On the ascension of Eyadema’s son to power, Mr. Annan “expressed concern that the transfer of power that has taken place in Togo…has not been done in full respect of the provisions of the Constitution” (UN News Service Feb 7)
     
  3. After the death of President Eyadema, Mr. Annan “called on the Togolese authorities to take all necessary measures to preserve stability in the country and ensure a peaceful transfer of power consistent with the constitution and the rule of law.” (UN News Service Feb 7)

• Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria and Chair of the African Union:

  On the ascension of Eyadema’s son to power, Mr. Obsanjo stated that “All African leaders should not accept what has happened in that country until there is a democratic transition…Events that have taken place since the death of President Eyadema do not give us comfort that peace will follow.” (Washington Post Feb 8)

• Mamadou Tandja, President of Niger and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

  On the ascension of Eyadema’s son to power, Mr. Tandja stated that “What’s happened in Togo does not honor Africa…We’ve told our Togolese brothers not to go in this direction. It’s the worst route they could take.” (Washington Post Feb 8)

• Statement by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

  “In the wake of President Eyadema’s death, France considers respect for the Togolese Constitutions to be essential. The transition must therefore be assured, in conformity with the provisions of the constitution and with strict respect for legality, by the speaker of the National Assembly. After this interim period, it will be for the Togolese people to express themselves freely and democratically.” (www.un.int/france Feb 8)

• Office of the Press Secretary, the White House:
  
  “The President strongly supports efforts by the African Union and the Economic
  Community of West African States (ECOWAS to promote a democratic resolution of
  the current situation in Togo…The United States calls for the government of Togo to
  use legitimate constitutional means to move towards free and fair national elections in
  order to fully protect the democratic aspirations and human rights of the Togolese
  people.” (www.whitehouse.gov Feb 10)

• African Newspapers:

  “Unless an end is quickly put to the current events, one has to fear the worst for Togo and the region. After Cote d'Ivoire, we don't want another botched transition of power in the region.”-- Le Pays (Burkina Faso)

  “Africa remains the continent of life presidencies and chronic coups...What we can wish for Togo is that, after the death of the baobab that hid the jungle, the "stability" of the past four decades does not degenerate into a civil war such was the case in Zaire or Ivory Coast”-- L’Express (Madagascar)

  “The reported sudden military swearing-in of Faure Gnassingbe... is a worrying development, especially to all who have hoped to see Africa... unburdened of the yoke of military adventurism.”-- Chronicle (Ghana)

  “Uganda and Togo have a lot in common, not least because our leaders have been in power for a long time and our democratic transition has not passed the full test of a change of leadership at the top.”-- Monitor (Uganda)

  “The hope is that our own Dear Leader Comrade Robert Mugabe, will learn from the Togolese experience following the death last Saturday of President Gnassingbe Eyadema.”-- Daily News (Zimbabwe)