NEWS RELEASES
February 26, 2005 (18:10 p.m. EST)
No. 37
MINISTER PETTIGREW WELCOMES DEVELOPMENTS IN TOGO
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today welcomed the resignation of Faure
Gnassingbé as President of Togo late on February 25.
“We are pleased to see that Mr. Gnassingbé has resigned from office, which we believe
will improve chances for the Togolese people to choose their next president in elections
that are fair, free and transparent. We will continue to urge the Togolese authorities to
set a resolute course along the path of democracy and good governance, to respect all
tenets of the Constitution in this interim period, and to hold free and transparent
elections for the well-being of the Togolese people,” said Minister Pettigrew.
The Economic Community of West African States has also decided to lift its sanctions
on Togo as a result of Mr. Gnassingbé’s resignation.
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A backgrounder is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Backgrounder
Canada, along with its international partners (including the African Union, the Economic
Community of West African States, the European Union and the International
Organisation of La Francophonie), had pressured Togo to reverse amendments made
to the Constitution on February 6 that tried to legalize the Togolese army’s turning over
of power to one of former President Eyadéma’s sons, Faure Gnassingbé, contrary to
the process provided for under the Constitution. As previously written, the Constitution
called for the Speaker of the National Assembly to take over on a provisional basis, with
a presidential election to be held within 60 days. The Parliament dismissed the Speaker
of the National Assembly, replaced him with Faure Gnassingbé and adopted
customized amendments delaying elections until 2008.
Bowing to international pressure, Faure Gnassingbé resigned as Togolese president on
February 25 and has accepted the ruling party’s nomination as presidential candidate in
elections now due within 60 days. The National Assembly has named the Assembly's
vice-president, Abbas Bonfoh, as Speaker, making him interim President of Togo.
Opposition parties continue to press for a full return to constitutional legality, arguing
that former Speaker Fambare Outtara Natchaba should act as Interim President and
organize free and fair elections. The opposition continues to organize demonstrations in
Lomé.
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