Togo: civil society offers another approach to fight against terrorism

Northern Togo is now targeted by attacks by armed groups.

Here, soldiers patrol the town of Namoundjoga on February 17, 2020 (illustration image).

AFP - PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Several civil society organizations in the country point the finger at the management of the latest armed attacks that Togo has been facing in recent months.

These organizations call on the government to take action that will ease internal political tensions, including the release of political prisoners.

This, according to them, will help bring Togolese together for a more effective fight against the terrorist threat in the country.

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With our correspondent in Lomé,

Peter Sassou Dogbé

On the ground in northern Togo, a relative calm reigns.

The state of emergency established since June has just been extended, the command of the force operating in the region has been renewed and patrols have been intensified.

For civil society organizations that are stepping up to the plate, poor governance has encouraged the incursion of armed groups into the territory.

“ 

These are marginalized environments, where the majority young populations are left behind,

points out Kao Atcholi, president of the association of victims of torture in Togo

.

Injustices that have accumulated frustrations in hearts, unhealed wounds that jihadist companies are trying to exploit on their own. 

»

He also points the finger at the equipment made available to the defense and security forces which, he believes, is not suitable for this fight.

While making proposals to help the government in the fight against terrorism, these organizations indicate in a press release that this fight is everyone's business.

Me Célestin Agbogan, of the Togolese Human Rights League, calls for “ 

the return of political exiles, the release of all prisoners of conscience and the organization of national meetings

 ”.

Will these proposals have an attentive ear?

Nothing is certain, as the gap between power and opposition is still very wide, even if the two camps had met the day after

the last attack in July

in the far north of Togo near the border with Burkina. Faso.

Attack that killed more than 20 people.

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  • Togo

  • Terrorism