The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), a network of pro-democracy national and transnational civil society organizations operating in the West African region has called on the President of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, to postpone the promulgation of the new Constitution and to initiate an inclusive political dialogue after the results of the next legislative and regional elections.
The Network said it is concerned by the recent adoption by the National Assembly of an amendment to Togo’s 1992 constitution, which essentially provides for a parliamentary regime in place of the semipresidential regime, enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, and hands over the power to elect the country’s president by universal, direct and secret suffrage from the citizens of Togo to the parliament.
In a press release issued by the Communications and Digital Platforms Officer, Jonah Eledi said the Network is troubled by the vehement threat that the amendment poses to the stability of Togo, with the very likely prospect that it will further exclude ordinary citizens’ right to express their political choices through a vote, a fundamental right enshrined in Article 4 of African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
He said the situation is exacerbated by the process of adoption of such a critical amendment. The fact that a referendum was not the prioritized option to adopt the amendment and a decision taken by a Parliament controlled by one party and its affiliates, certainly affects the rights of the citizens to contribute to profound reforms, current affairs, and the governance of the country, also in violation of the African Union Charter.
While welcoming the intervention of the President for the National Assembly to review the amendment, engage in larger consultations, and hold parliamentary and regional elections on April 29, the Network condemns the timing of the proposed changes ahead of the scheduled election in clear violation of Article 2 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy, Good Governance and Elections, as well as the use of force to suppress the rights of citizens to voice their disapproval of the amendment.
“The WADEMOS Network urges the Government of Togo to take into consideration the calls of the people of Togo disapproving of the ongoing process including the voice of prodemocratic actors in Togo, namely the Togolese Conference of Bishops, academics, the CSOs, and the Diaspora, calling on the President to postpone the promulgation of the new Constitution and to initiate an inclusive political dialogue after the results of the next legislative and regional elections.
“We take serious note of the decision of ECOWAS Commission, to deploy a mission ahead of the legislative and regional elections. We expect that the mission will host dialogue with the Government of Togo, civil society, political parties, and stakeholders and come out with good practice recommendations on the different issues at stake, their regional implications, and their impact on the ECOWAS of the people, the preservation of peace, and the consolidation of Democracy in West-Africa.
“We declare our commitment to working with national institutions as well as regional and international towards resolving this current challenge.
“We believe that constitutional reforms will continue to be an important feature of a democracy and as such will remain a significant part of governance in Togo through an inclusive, deliberative and legitimate process,” he said.
