ECOWAS Deploys  Fact-finding Mission to Togo

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, has deployed a fact-finding mission to Togo to interact with key stakeholders on the latest developments in the country, ahead of the country’s legislative and regional elections on  April 29,  2024.

The elections, initially scheduled for April 13, were first postponed to  April 20 and then further delayed to  April 29 due to the gravity of the contentious constitutional reforms the government planned to introduce.

The reforms, passed through the National Assembly, aimed to transform the Togolese political system from a presidential to a parliamentary model.

 In the crucial context, the ECOWAS Commission has therefore deemed it necessary to dispatch a fact-finding mission to Togo, a statement from the organisation said.

Under the constitutional changes, members of Parliament will elect the president, who will, in turn, appoint the President of the Council of Ministers with executive powers, the equivalent of a Prime Minister under the Westminster system.

 Such a president would be appointed from within the party or coalition with a parliamentary majority.

The seven-member fact-finding mission, which is partly in response to an earlier invitation by the Togolese government, is led by  Maman Sidikou, the immediate past head of the AU Mission in Mali and the Sahel. It is expected to remain in the country from April 15 to 20, 2024.