AFRICA/TOGO - “We are waiting to hear a government statement that the crisis is over” says Fides source in Togo

Lome (Fides Service)- “We are waiting to hear a government statement that a positive solution has been found” said a local Church source in Lomé, capital of Togo, a country in crisis over the successor of its President Gnassingbe Eyadema who died on 5 February (see Fides 8 and 9 February 2005). Faure Gnassingbé Eyadema son of the deceased president was declared head of state with the support of the army after parliament hastily passed constitutional amendments and dismissed its chairman Famabré Natchaba who according to the law in force should have become interim head of state.
Opposition parties and the international community protested asserting that what had taken place was an army coup. To find a solution to the crisis the Economic Community of West African Countries CEDEAO sent a delegation to Togo to meet the government. Only hours ago anonymous government members said the crisis would be over soon.
“We are confident that talks with the CEDEAO delegation will lead to a solution” the sources told Fides. “A government statement was expected yesterday. Let’s hope today there is some good news”.
Following clashes between opposition groups and the police in the capital in which one person was killed and several wounded, calm has returned. “The army continues to patrol the streets of Lome, but the situation is calm” Fides sources report. “There is more confidence and hope for the future. We ask for your prayers to help the country find a way out of this serious crisis”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/2/2005 righe 26 parole 309)