The Togolese Diaspora demands that General Eyadéma dissolve the National Assembly during March 2000, as promised, and that he hold truly free and transparent elections in Togo as soon as possible.
 

On June 21, 1998, the people of Togo clearly demonstrated their desire for change, by voting massively for the opposition. By declaring himself the winner, against the wishes of the people, Eyadéma and his government placed themselves in an illegal position. Moreover, by installing, in March 1999,  an Assembly which did not reflect the wishes of the people, the old regime of Eyadéma has only worsened the already very unstable socio-political situation in Togo.

After several rounds of negotiations between government and the opposition parties, in the presence of facilitators and with the purpose of settling these two electoral issues, it has been decided that the current National Assembly be dissolved in March 2000 and that new  democratic elections take place without further delay.

During the visit of the French President to Togo in July 1999, General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who has been in power for 33 years, declared formally « I pledge to dissolve the National Assembly in March 2000 and I will hold new elections.» On the basis of this commitment the discussions proceed to find a settlement to the crisis in Togo. This pledge, made by the head of state before the nation and before the international community must be honoured, and this must be done within the time that was agreed upon. In light of the severity of the situation in Togo, the Togolese Diaspora for Democracy (DIASTODE) feels that this is the very least that the head of state can do to show his goodwill, and to give hope to the people of Togo. General Eyadéma should accept the will of his people, in order to regain the confidence of investors in Togo, to lead the country out of its international isolation, and to take advantage of the conditions for economic revival.

With the democratization of Togo and the well-being of its people in mind, the Diastode asks:

- that General Gnassingbé Eyadéma honour his "word as a soldier" and immediately dissolve the Togolese National Assembly;
- that the Government and the political Parties of Togo leave no stone unturned to organize truly free and transparent legislative elections without any further delay, according to the constitution;
- that the Government of Togo decline to host the next summit of the OAU, in order to deal with the real problems which face the country.

The DIASTODE takes this opportunity to express once again its admiration for the Togolese people, who, in spite of their trials, have decidedly chosen to follow the path of justice and democracy in Togo.
 

Ottawa (Ontario) Canada, March 22nd, 2000
For the Secretary of Diastode

Dr  Emmanuel Kossivi Ayigah