The proposal to appoint Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé as a mediator in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda has sparked a wave of criticism and rejection, both within Togo and among its diaspora. Civil society groups and opposition parties are denouncing the idea, citing Gnassingbé’s tarnished domestic record and questionable legitimacy.
In a sharply worded communiqué issued from Paris on April 9, the Freedom Togo – Mouvement de Libération Nationale (MLN), led by the French-Togolese politician Kofi Yamgnane, condemned the proposal as “scandalous” and “discrediting for the African Union.” Yamgnane warned that naming Faure Gnassingbé would undermine the credibility of the AU: “Faure Gnassingbé has no legitimacy to conduct a continental-scale mediation.”
The group accused the Togolese leader of “trampling on the principles of democracy, human rights, and good governance enshrined in the AU’s founding charter.” It further denounced his “repression, torture, political imprisonment, and monopolization of national wealth,” warning that appointing him could permanently tarnish the AU, as “happened with ECOWAS in 2005.”
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, the Togolese opposition party Les Démocrates, led by Nicodème Habia, issued its own statement on April 10. “Before appointing someone for a mediation of this scale,” the party wrote, “one must ensure they are not burdened with political baggage, and possess wisdom and experience in conflict resolution.”
Habia was direct in his criticism: “Faure Gnassingbé came to power in a pool of blood 20 years ago,” referencing the deadly unrest following the 2005 presidential succession. The party also emphasized that the Togolese president has failed to resolve the decades-long political crisis in his own country.
Citing past crackdowns, political prisoners, and economic mismanagement, Les Démocrates concluded: “Mr. Faure Gnassingbé is in no position to be entrusted with the delicate Congo-Rwanda file.”
The Alliance Nationale pour le Changement (ANC), led by Jean-Pierre Fabre, was the first political party to start the outcry, further illustrating the broad resistance to this nomination, which critics see as an affront to democratic values and regional stability.
AU : Opposition voices multiply against Faure Gnassingbé’s potential mediation role
