Togo boss can't kick the ballot
2004-01-13 14:31
Lome - President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who has led Togo since 1967, marked 37 years in power on Tuesday, extending his run as Africa's longest-serving ruler.
Like many of his continental counterparts, Eyadema finds it hard to drop the reins of power.
The president promised repeatedly that his second elected term in office, which ended in June last year, would be his last. But then he had a change of heart, had the country's constitution amended - and ran for yet another term.
Late last year parliament - which is dominated by Eyadema's Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party - removed from the constitution any reference to a two-term limit for the presidency, thereby paving the way for Eyadema to remain in office.
The veteran leader was re-elected in June to a third, five-year term thanks to nearly 58 percent of the vote, in a poll in which 2.3 million of the west African country's 3.2 million eligible voters cast their ballots.
Eyadema said he had only agreed to run again to prevent "disorder" overrunning the country, his party said.
Although he wanted to let go of power, his people and his entourage persuaded him to make a "new sacrifice" and stand again, according to a statement by the RPT.