Togo’s main opposition party, the Alliance Nationale pour le Changement (ANC), has strongly condemned the possible appointment of President Faure Gnassingbé as a mediator by the African Union (AU) in the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by Rwanda.
In a press release dated April 9, 2025, ANC leader Jean-Pierre Fabre described the potential nomination as both “indecent” and “deeply cynical,” questioning how an authoritarian leader accused of long-term human rights abuses could be tasked with mediating peace. “The ANC expresses its deep indignation at this prospect, which constitutes an insult to the Togolese people,” the statement read.
The opposition party highlighted Faure Gnassingbé’s record, accusing him of ruling with “a regime of terror, injustice, and power confiscation” since 2005. Citing a UN fact-finding report, the ANC recalled that his rise to power came “in a bloodbath that claimed the lives of over five hundred people.” It further alleged that the Togolese president has since “locked down institutions, altered the Constitution in his favor, and institutionalized repression, corruption, and impunity.”
The ANC criticized the African Union for turning a blind eye to these issues, warning that appointing Faure Gnassingbé would “legitimize an illegitimate, anti-democratic, and oppressive regime.” The statement questioned, “How can the AU, in this context, see Faure Gnassingbé as a credible mediator?”
Calling it a “betrayal of the AU’s fundamental values,” the ANC urged African and international democratic forces to oppose what it views as an attempt to rehabilitate “a notorious autocrat.” The party’s position is clear: the AU must “support the people, not the dictators.”
The press release ends with a strong appeal for accountability, demanding that the African Union uphold its principles of democracy, peace, and good governance.
Togo’s ANC condemns AU’s consideration of Faure Gnassingbé as mediator in DR Congo-Rwanda crisis
