Togo – A very family affair

The president of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, claims to have foiled an attempted coup.

The story is unusual. On the night of 12th/13th April official reports say that there was an exchange of gunfire at the residence of the president’s half-brother, Kpatcha Gnassingbé, who is a deputy and a senior figure in the ruling Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais party. The skirmish ended with the arrest of Kpatcha Gnassingbé. There are reports that arms and incriminating documents were found at the residence.

Then, on Thursday 16 April another of the president’s half-brothers, Essolizam Gnassingbé, was arrested. He was named in a list of people who were involved in the plot.

Now, official reports say that nine military personnel including five officers have been arrested.

One, not totally unreasonable report, portrays President Faure Gnassingbé, who was catapulted to power on the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in 2005, as the reformer, and Kpatcha Gnassingbé as the person who is trying to maintain his father’s corrupt system.

Presidential elections are scheduled for 2010.

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