“The Opposition And Civil Society Have Legitimate Claims”

What reading can you make of the situation in Togo?

The growing crisis of State legitimacy in Togo is due to poor governance, and State captured, corruption for more than five decades. President Faure Gnassinbge has asserted himself above all State institutions. This has plunged the country into the abyss of violence and lawlessness. The outcome of Eyadema's dynasty in Togo (father-son) governance has ushered unsuitable development and perpetual underdeveloped. The regime in Togo is an extractive regime. This kind of regime often resists change to maintain the status-quo, which can lead to economic decline. Countries with extractive institutions often remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and corruption because elites resist reforms that would diminish their powers. 

How legitimate are the claims made by the opposition and civil society?

The opposition and civil society have legitimate claims. Human rights concerns include credible reports of ill-treatment by security forces, harsh prison conditions, and restrictions on freedom of expression. Corruption and impunity for abuses are problems. The government took limited steps to investigate, prosecute, or punish officials who committed abuses or corrupt acts. Violent extremist organizations committed numerous abuses during violent incursions into the country's territory. In the economic sphere, youth unemployment, poverty, and underdevelopment are the major reasons for this unrest. The trigger of the uprising was after President Faure Eyadema crowned himself as President of the Council of Ministers and changed the political structure of the State to a unitary parliamentary republic under a hereditary dictatorship.

The AU has come in by calling for restrain. Is it enough to put an end to the conflict?

We can expect any solution from the AU because it is the organization that created the current situation in Togo in 2005 when Gnassinbge Eyadema died and the military unconstitutional transfer of power to Faure Gnassinbge. The AU ultimately supported the process that led to elections in 2005, which were initially boycotted by the oppo...