Buried Under Corruption and Oppression: The Dark Legacy of Faure Gnassingbé’s Regime

«In Togo, although Faure Gnassingbé appears to have signed an indefinite agreement with the presidential chair, his fellow citizens, in their overwhelming majority, continue to drag the devil by the tail. The royal devolution of the Togolese regime is pushing the country into a socio-political crisis that does not speak its name. Between the mirage of the democratic beginnings and the years of Faure Gnassingbé, there is one constant: the living conditions of the majority of the population have hardly changed. Contrary to what the regime’s obsessive political communication conveys, the socio-economic regression is evident.» “Le Correcteur, N° 1181”, Togolese every other week.

We often have the habit, when discussing with friends about the dramatic situation of many African countries and especially Togo, to say that we, on the black continent, would prefer the Chinese dictatorship. Yes, the Middle Kingdom, as China is still called, is not known for being a paragon of democracy and respect for human rights. But who is still talking earnestly about the political situation in China today? The second largest economic power in the world, behind the USA, China is regularly in the news thanks to its economic power. Whoever says electric cars today immediately thinks of China, which has become the world champion in this field since at least 2018. So the Chinese example shows, without democracy, as we define it from the Western point of view, with regular change at the top of the state, with respect for human rights and freedom of the press and expression, development and prosperity are possible.

Why then in many countries of the black continent, and especially here in Togo, a tribal-family dictatorship, pure and harsh, ruthless, for half a century, has continued to destroy life and compromise the future of citizens through a wicked and inhumane policy, based on nepotism, corruption and persecution of everyone who thinks otherwise? Why, in order to retain power at all costs, other Togolese have become enemies to defeat? Unfortunately, the litany of persecution of opponents with human rights violations, continued detention of political prisoners despite incessant appeals from all sides, complete looting of the country’s wealth by a minority, encouraged since the summit of the state, is there to show that the Togolese regime, with Faure Gnassingbé at its head, is very far from being compared to the Chinese model. Here in Togo only dictatorship and poverty of the populations have not started development. This is a regime that has sworn the destruction of its people and is doing so at all costs to keep the Togolese in poverty, in misery, in fear through terror, provided that Faure Gnassingbé remains at the head of the country despite despite his incompetence, despite that. his lack of vision and consequently despite his obvious failure on every level. If not malice, what can explain, for example, the arrest of a Togolese woman, who is upset by the disappearance of her husband in South Africa in unclear circumstances and above all, who returns to the country and is detained in prison? In fact, the widow Madame Abga Bertin was arrested last July after she arrived at Lomé airport, accompanied by some members of her family.

Battling cancer, she would be denied care to ease her pain. How would she be a threat to the power of Faure Gnassingbé? Or are there other reasons for keeping it that we don’t know about? The late Bertin Agba was a successful businessman; and when he died, he must have left some fortune. Would we try to prevent his widow and her friend from getting rid of what they rightfully had? These are the few questions raised by the arbitrary arrest and detention of the widow Agba Bertin, for three months, who, apart from the financial aspect, would certainly like to organize traditional ceremonies for the rest of her late husband’s soul, such as this is happening in almost all of our communities in Togo. How long would Faure Gnassingbé want to continue abusing his power by keeping her in custody, at the risk of a deterioration in her health? The same question is also valid for the continued detention of political prisoners, such as those of the PNP, “Tigre-Révolution”, Jean-Paul Oumolou and especially Kpatcha Gnassingbé.

Faure Gnassingbé should stop making fun of his countrymen by pretending to play Mr Clean who gives lessons in good behavior elsewhere, when he is the one who needs them most to take care of the many problems that facing the Togolese in their daily lives. Close to us in the east, the Beninese president, Patrice Talon, does not make much noise, he does not play the fake Pan-Africanist with his minister of foreign affairs, but he develops his country intelligently and patient, as Liberty” wrote in its publication No. 3960 last Thursday: “This is a country (Togo) that has almost everything, rich subsoil, skills, potential, etc. to evolve positively and shine, but which, for 60 years, has failed miserably and continues to be underdeveloped. Togo has become a great sick body due to corruption, chronic bad governance, nepotism, economic looting and public funds… Faure Gnassingbé would not deny us, who confirmed in 2012, that a minority has monopolized all goods and wealth of the country and bathe in the delights of Capua, while the vast majority of citizens bathe in unspeakable poverty.»

Let no one misunderstand us. By taking the example of the Chinese model, we have no intention of advocating dictatorship; but simply, we want to say that in the absence of a perfect democracy, we can at least love our country, be jealous of it and develop it, as many leaders of other countries do, in Africa and elsewhere. In Togo, there is neither democracy, nor any vision for the country, so no development has begun. For Faure Gnassingbé and his entourage, what matters is the power and delight that flows from him, even if that means continuing to walk over the bodies of the Togolese. The opinion of the many citizens who think otherwise does not count. And this is what must be stopped so that our country can become a normal country again.

Samari Tchadjobo
Germany