Leaders from Western and Central Africa gathered in Lome this week for a joint two-day summit to step up their fight against terrorism. But the event was overshadowed by Togo’s political crisis, which has dragged on for nearly a year.
The summit, the first of its kind, brought together delegates from the 15-nation sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, and 11 members of the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS.
Some analysts believe the Togolese government hosted the forum to distract the attention of its critics from its internal inadequacies The country’s ongoing political crisis, which commenced since early last year, has refused to go away.
After playing a leading role in the historic transfer of power in The Gambia, civil society groups are now looking to West African leaders to do the same in Togo. As a member of the civil society organization, Togo Debout, in the UK, Paul Cilly, put it, “We in the Diaspora are very hopeful. We believe that ECOWAS will listen to the diverse aspirations expressed by the Togolese people”.
Cilly told newsmen in London on Wednesday, “When you look at the principles of ECOWAS, you will notice that by 2020, most of the countries in the sub-region would have political transition then. They should not allow Togo to remain the only exception”.
On paper, West African leaders were only meant to discuss the fight against terrorism at the forum. The host who is also the current Head of ECOWAS, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé said in a tweet that the “26 West African and Central African states are committed to achieving a durable peace.”
He certainly believed that hosting the summit would give him some respite from his political opponents while serving to convince some of his counterparts and guests that he was on top of the situation.
