Togo: Imposition of Sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States

U.S. Department of State PRESS RELEASE February 20, 2005

The United States fully supports the decision by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to impose sanctions on the Gnassingbe regime in Togo. The United States has ended all military assistance to Togo. We are reviewing all aspects of our relations with Togo in order to identify further means of supporting the actions of ECOWAS. We note that direct government assistance to Togo ended in 1994 following a flawed presidential election and gross human rights abuses.

The United States does not accept as legitimate the designation of Gnassingbe as interim president and calls on him to step aside immediately. The United States again calls on Togolese authorities to fully implement, without further delay, all the ECOWAS demands listed in the 9 February communique. We are convinced that peaceful national reconciliation and democratic governance can only be achieved in Togo through the conduct of free, transparent and fully participatory elections organized under a neutral, independent authority working closely with regional and international organizations.

We note with favor that the Togolese authorities have lifted the ban on political demonstrations. Opposition political parties held a peaceful march in Lomé on 19 February. The Togolese security forces did not interfere. We believe that continued restraint and tolerance on all sides can greatly contribute toward eventual national reconciliation in Togo.