In response to a longstanding invitation from the President of the National Assembly of Togo, the IPU Secretary General, Mr. Martin Chungong, travelled to Lomé, from 30 September to 3 October, to attend the formal opening of the second ordinary session of the National Assembly in 2017.
Mindful of the context marked by the socio-political crisis that Togo has been experiencing since August, the IPU Secretary General requested and held meetings with the different political parties representing the majority and the opposition in order to better understand the causes of the crisis.
Based on those exchanges, it emerged that the entire political class was unanimous on the need for constitutional reform aimed at leading the country to a sustainable democratic path in the interest of the entire Togolese population. Differences persist, however, regarding the scope and substance of these reforms and their immediate consequences. The tensions resulting from these diverging views are likely to seriously disrupt the peace, unravel the social fabric and destabilize the country.
The IPU Secretary General has expressed deep concern over this crisis and has called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and calm. He has appealed to their sense of responsibility and has invited them to initiate genuine and inclusive dialogue for the peaceful solution of this growing crisis in the overall interest of all Togolese people.
Lastly, the IPU Secretary General reaffirmed the IPU’s readiness to support any initiative aimed at achieving this objective for the good of the Togolese people as a whole.
