In Togo, first opposition meeting after two years of ban

A few hundred people attended Sunday, November 27 in Vogan, some 50 kilometers northeast of Lomé, the first meeting of a major opposition movement in Togo, after more than two years of prohibition, noted the AFP.

After the discovery of the first case of Covid-19 in March 2020, all opposition demonstrations were banned by the government, which then invoked health reasons. Recent demonstrations have been banned for reasons “safe”.

At the call of the Dynamique Monseigneur Kpodzro (DMK), which brings together seven opposition political parties and six civil society organisations, opposition activists gathered in three large tents set up on a small plot of locality. Others gathered under trees. No incident was recorded.

“Bad governance”

“It’s a great relief, a lesson we learn, an encouragement to continue the fight. It was not won in advance, until the last minute we had to hold on. Despite all the intimidation and all the manoeuvres, we organized this meeting”Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson, coordinator of the DMK, told AFP. “It is an information meeting, but above all a mobilization on a certain number of concerns. With the population, we have launched an appeal to the regime to get out of its strategy of delirium. Personally, I’m satisfied.”she clarified.

In turn, the leaders of the political parties represented within the movement strongly criticized the power in place, denouncing the “poor governance”them “restrictive measures” demonstrations and the “strong outbreak” prices. They demand the return of exiles and the release of “political detainees”. A hundred political detainees are still in prisons across the country, according to the DMK.

“Life is expensive, cereal prices have soared. We cassava processors can no longer sell our products. We are totally out of breath”denounced Adjali Dokè, a sexagenarian. “I invite the opposition to redouble their efforts to win the next elections in order to lead this country”added Fiomékpo Akoesso, 55.

The DMK is a movement that supported former Prime Minister Agbéyomé Kodjo, who came second in the 2020 presidential election with 19.46% of the vote, against 70.78% for Faure Gnassingbé. In exile, Mr. Kodjo, who has not made a public appearance since July 2020, still disputes the results of this election on social networks.

President Faure Gnassingbé came to power in 2005 after the death of his father, General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who had ruled Togo with an iron fist for thirty-eight years. He was re-elected in polls that were all contested by the opposition.