AU lifts Togo sanctions

2005-05-27 19:33

Addis Ababa - Members of the African Union's peace and security council on Friday lifted sanctions imposed on Togo three months ago because of a power bid there, announced the AU.

AU's commissioner for peace and security, Said Djinnit said: "The peace and security council has decided to lift sanctions against Togo.

"Togo is no longer suspended from taking part in the activities of the African Union."

Before the 15-member council, modelled on the United Nations' one went into session, an official said the "meeting will serve to look at the situation since Faure Gnassingbe resigned at the end of February."

West African leaders and the pan-African body as a whole were angered and slapped sanctions on Togo after the army and ruling party rushed Gnassingbe into office without an election on the sudden death of his father on February 5.

Elections results 'widely disputed'

Under international pressure, the military and ruling party politicians who had been part of a regime run for almost 38 years by Gnassingbe Eyadema backed down and a presidential election was held and won by Eyadema's favourite son on April 28.

Trouble persists in the small West African country because the results of the elections were widely disputed and led to serious unrest in the capital Lome and some other southern towns and regions.

Thousands of people had fled to neighbouring Ghana and Benin, some told relief workers and rights organisations about the killings and beatings, harassment and intimidation.

The AU had no representative in Togo, unlike most member states of the pan-African body undergoing a political crisis.

It suspended all AU activities there as well as imposing travel bans on the country's leaders on February 25.

That day, Gnassingbe said he would step down and stand at the polls.

- AFP