Togo: France confirms the authenticity of a courtesy letter sent to Faure Gnassingbé in March 2020
The Quai d'Orsay, seat of French diplomacy.
MAE / Frédéric de la Mure
Text by: RFI Archives
3 min
In its press briefing on Wednesday, April 7, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just confirmed that a letter had indeed been sent by the French presidency to Faure Gnassingbé after his re-election in February 2020. These details should put an end to a controversy launched for several months by certain Togolese political actors.
This confirmation comes after those of Germany and the European Union.
Publicity
Read more
These are two simple sentences, which we hope will end a controversy for several months.
In its online press briefing on Wednesday, April 7, the French Foreign Ministry confirms (I quote) that "
the President of the Republic has indeed sent a letter to President Faure Gnassingbé, following his election
".
“
These letters
,
explains the Quai d'Orsay,
are international courtesy on the occasion of the election of a head of state
.
"
For several months,
an RFI journalist
has been targeted by certain Togolese political actors who harass and threaten him.
They claim that he purposely lied in a March 31, 2020 article in which he cited three letters sent to Faure Gnassingbé after his re-election in the February 2020 presidential election.
What they say is wrong, and we can prove it.
One after the other, the three European authorities who are at the origin of these three letters have confirmed their existence.
The German Embassy in Togo first sent us the text of the letter from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier which was sent to the Togolese presidency.
EM pdf togo
From the European Union, we have also obtained a copy of a letter written jointly by the Head of Cabinet of the President of the Council Charles Michel and that of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In this joint letter, they confirm the authenticity of the letter of congratulations sent to Faure Gnassingbé.
Copy of the letter written by the Chief of Staff of the President of the European Council and by that of the President of the European Commission
France has therefore just, through the voice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the existence of the third letter.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Togo
France
Faure Gnassingbé