February 26, 2005 No. 37 Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today welcomed the resignation of Faure Gnassingbé as President of Togo late on February 25. “We are pleased to see that Mr. Gnassingbé has resigned from office, which we believe will improve chances for the Togolese people to choose their next president in elections that are fair, free and transparent. We will continue to urge the Togolese authorities to set a resolute course along the path of democracy and good governance, to respect all tenets of the Constitution in this interim period, and to hold free and transparent elections for the well-being of the Togolese people,” said Minister Pettigrew. The Economic Community of West African States has also decided to lift its sanctions on Togo as a result of Mr. Gnassingbé’s resignation. - 30 - A backgrounder is attached. For further information, media representatives may contact: Sébastien Théberge Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (613) 995-1851 Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs Canada (613) 995-1874 http://www.international.gc.ca Backgrounder Canada, along with its international partners (including the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union and the International Organisation of La Francophonie), had pressured Togo to reverse amendments made to the Constitution on February 6 that tried to legalize the Togolese army’s turning over of power to one of former President Eyadéma’s sons, Faure Gnassingbé, contrary to the process provided for under the Constitution. As previously written, the Constitution called for the Speaker of the National Assembly to take over on a provisional basis, with a presidential election to be held within 60 days. The Parliament dismissed the Speaker of the National Assembly, replaced him with Faure Gnassingbé and adopted customized amendments delaying elections until 2008. Bowing to international pressure, Faure Gnassingbé resigned as Togolese president on February 25 and has accepted the ruling party’s nomination as presidential candidate in elections now due within 60 days. The National Assembly has named the Assembly's vice-president, Abbas Bonfoh, as Speaker, making him interim President of Togo. Opposition parties continue to press for a full return to constitutional legality, arguing that former Speaker Fambare Outtara Natchaba should act as Interim President and organize free and fair elections. The opposition continues to organize demonstrations in Lomé.
