Memorandum To The Government of The Togolese Republic
13 October 2017
Africans Rising for Justice, Peace & Dignity pledges solidarity with Front Citoyen Togo Debout and, the Togolese people – we call on the Government to respect the will of the People.
Africans Rising is a Pan-African movement of people and organisations, working for peace, justice and dignity. We are determined to foster an Africa-wide solidarity and unity of purpose of the Peoples of Africa to build the Future we want – a right to peace, social inclusion and shared prosperity.
Africans Rising amplifies broad demands connecting struggles, building solidarity & cooperation within & amongst campaigns for social, economic, environmental and gender justice. We do this with movements, people, civil society organisations, governments, artists, business, and others – based on our shared support for the Kilimanjaro Declaration.
We hereby pledge solidarity with and support of the civil society movement, Front Citoyen Togo Debout and, the people of Togo in their demands for political reforms and the respect of their fundamental human rights. We call on the Togolese government to heed the voices of your citizens, which are being raised in peaceful protests, and to engage them civil to secure lasting, just and democratic solutions to their grievances.
In particular, we endorse and support the following specific demands issued by Front Citoyen Togo Debout:
1. That the 1992 Constitution of the Togolese Republic, which was amended in 2002 to allow the president to run for an unlimited term, be revised to re‐institute presidential term limits.
2. That, after three terms as head of state, President Faure Gnassingbé should not be allowed to run for the highest office again.
3. That all people who have been arrested and detained for participating in peaceful public demonstrations be released immediately.
4. That the government ensures and protects the right of all Togolese citizens, including those residing outside the country, to vote in elections, as enshrined in the Constitution. One in every four Togolese lives outside Togo’s borders and, are currently not allowed to vote – a situation that is unacceptable.
5. That the government and security forces cease all violent actions against protesters and ensure a peaceful environment for civic action.
6. That, in the current context, Front Citoyen Togo Debout welcomes the government’s announcement of a referendum to decide the issue of political reforms.
As part of Africans Rising solidarity with social movements and civil society groups such as Front Citoyen Togo Debout, a delegation from African Rising is on a fact‐finding mission to Togo.
The purpose of this mission is to better understand the dynamics of the public protests and to explore ways to play a constructive role in efforts to secure lasting, peaceful and just resolutions to the political crisis facing the country. To that end, the delegation will meet with representatives of government and other stakeholders.
It is our sincere hope that the government of the Togolese Republic accepts this memorandum in the spirit of constructive engagement and respect for democratic governance, with which it has been conceived, and is willing to work towards addressing the demands described herein.
In Solidarity
Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan
Coordinator | Africans Rising for Justice, Peace & Dignity
#AfricansRising Cooperation, Solidarity, Working together to build the #AfricaWeWant
Additional Reading|
http://www.africans-rising.org/www/2017/09/19/togo1/
