Faure Gnassingbé emerges victorious from the just concluded presidential election held in Togo. The son of the late dictator, Gnassingbé Eyadema, he was installed to lead the Togolese republic following the death of his father. Since the country's constitution had to be altered for this to happen, international pressure was put on Faure Gnassingbé to step down and organize elections. Left with little choice and under intense pressure predominantly from the West African regional body, ECOWAS, he stepped down.

While residents of Lome, the Togolese capital seem to be up in arms against this dynastic succession, other parts of the country seem less concerned, judging from media reports. Even before the election was held, there had been reports of strong Gnassingbé support in the north of the county, with the opposition holding strongly to the south.

To its own peril, the opposition fielded a septuagenarian, Bob Akitani, as its candidate, though its main spokesperson happened to be Gilchrist Olympio, the son of Togo's former president, from whom Gnassingbé Eyadema ceased power. In a nation in need of dynamic leadership, a youthful and well-educated Faure Gnassingbé could easily outclass the elderly Bob Akitani. However, the opposition continues to stick to its claim that the election was rigged in favor of Faure Gnassingbé, and has so far out rightly refused to recognize the results.

Violence will continue to mar Togo for days and possibly weeks to come but talks of a civil war are over-exaggerated. Sandwiched between regional powerhouse, Nigeria and a significantly more powerful neighbor, Ghana, tiny Togo will definitely not go the way of Liberia or Sierra Leone. Should external intervention become necessary to maintain peace and stability, let it be, so long as the forces in question are not openly allied to any of the parties – this clearly rules out France.

Peace in West Africa seems so elusive. At a time when Liberia and Sierra Leone are recovering from years of civil war, and the Ivory Coast finally shows signs of ending its three-year conflict, tiny Togo flares up. One consolation this time around however is that Togo seems like a country which can easily be placated. With the Nigerian capital Abuja having become the 'meeting point' for the resolution of Togo's political problems, expect to see more flights from Lome to Abuja should the violence continue unabated.

Related blog article: The short reign of Faure Gnassingbé.

Labels: Africa, Democracy, Togo