Togo's election marks history

2007-10-15 08:22

Lome - In a hopeful sign for democratic politics in Togo, voters in the country's parliamentary election were handed the longest ballot sheets they had seen in more than a decade.

Sunday's election marked the first time in several years that no politicians from the political opposition boycotted a parliamentary poll in the West African nation, which had been ruled by one family since shortly after gaining independence from France in 1960.

Major opposition parties refused to participate in legislative elections in 1999 and 2002 over charges that the ruling party was rigging the vote.

On Sunday, long, winding lines quickly formed under a bright morning sun. About 3 000 people waited outside one polling station.

Opposition claims victory

Military ruler Gnassingbe Eyadema controlled Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005, after his son, Faure Gnassingbe, seized power. He won elections held a few months later under international pressure - the country's last election before Sunday's legislative poll.

The opposition had claimed victory in that vote and riots broke out. Days of violent clashes left hundreds dead, and tens of thousands of Togolese fled into neighboring Benin and Ghana to escape the violence, according to United Nations agencies.

Some Togolese said the years of opposition boycotts had born fruit.

After casting his vote, radio reporter Guy Yovo said: "The boycotts gave the opposition the chance to force the late President Eyadema to start with political reforms."

Significant international aid was also at stake for the impoverished country.

2 000+ candidates running for 81 seats

The European Union, which cut funding to Togo in 1993 over concerns about its totalitarian government, had since resumed some aid, but had said it was looking to this vote as a measure of Togo's democracy as it decided whether to restore full funding.

International observers were on hand from the EU, the association of the world's French-speaking countries and the 15-member Economic Community of West African States.

More than 2 000 candidates were running for 81 seats, according to the electoral commission. Seventy-two of the seats had been held by the ruling Rally of the Togolese People, according to a parliament spokesperson.

A power-sharing government organised the vote under an August 2006 deal that set up an independent electoral commission and put an opposition leader in the post of prime minister.

Originally scheduled for June, the vote was delayed twice by disputes over the issuing of voter cards and protocol for approximately 5 000 polling stations.

The president called the election the beginning of a great reform.

Gnassingbe said: "I believe that this will be the democratic rebirth of the Togolese people. If there are still skeptics, I will do everything to convince them."

- AP