The long-term crisis of the Fourth Republic in Togo is essentially a problem of leadership. This situation is bound to different manipulations of the intentions of the Sovereign people, as the reversal of the democratic Transition on 3th december 1991, the cohabitation of UTD-RPT from 1994 till 1996 and the one-sided proclamation by the RPT of the results of presidential elections of 1998. The tendency of elites to disdain the Togolese people is particularly visible by the legislative of October 27th, 2002, denied by more than 90 % of the voters.
The current initiative of coalition of the opposition parties against the regime in place in Lomé is a sign of praiseworthy hope. By their management of the protesting against government, the staff of the opposition parties adopt an administrative method. Thus they appear as watches or pressure groups inclined to govern together the country. However, the Coalition of the Democratic Forces becomes a political act when the formings in cause speak about the same voice by a single head of row, the leader of the Togolese opposition. Political activity, or the organization of the City, is a noble and lucid enterprise, exactly as far as one elects the person people appoints to represent the expectations of the freedom and the common good. There is not possible politics as long as the choice of the holder of the executive is not clearly pronounced. The choice of the ruling becomes eminent political act as far as it assumes the will of the sovereign people. In Real Politik, leadership returns to the one who is in head during the last elections. However, this position is always unstable, because political reality depends on public opinion, which changes ceaselessly. In regard to Togolese opposition, it is the party of CAR of Mr. Yawo AGBOYIBO which had the superiority, from 1994 till 1998. Since the presidential elections of 1998, the head of row of the opposition returns to Mr. Gilchrist OLYMPIO's UFC party.
The current situation on the ground imposes the Coalition of the Democratic Forces the sacred duty to appoint, in fine, the leader of the Togolese opposition, by taking into account the point of view of the sovereign people. The coalition should also chose the main Ministers. Three main missions fall to them henceforth: on one hand, prevent the taking office of a tenth legislature, while for ten years, the Fourth Republic in Togo is a vacuum space, politically speaking; on the other hand, cross African capitals and European countries to make listen the cause of Togo against 36 years dictatorship; finally undertake discussions about the contradictions of the always two-tier Togolese society. Indeed the cleavages between urban areas and rural zones, the gaps between alphabetized and non-educated people, the dissonances of authorities and local populations.... constitute frames of asserting the privileges of elites (academics, clerics, servicemen, native villagers and local authorities) against the rights of poor people (subordinate of administration, priest and pastors in rural zones, servants, landless peasant, simple soldiers, basic activists of politic parties).
In 2003, doubtful elections will be once more organized permitting the embeded President to make off for the benefit of a member of his family. Thus the well known "Man of January 13th" will be back to power in 2008. Is Togolese opposition Intelligentsia not capable to prevent such an affront? The love of the Earth of our Forefathers invites politicians in democratic opposition to supplement of soul, which means to escaping short administrative approach to political actions. Spirituality and dynamics of alternative compel us together to political ambitions. The meaning of the Lome Accords-Cadre depends on it.
Geneva, Switzerland, October 31, 2002
N.O.R.A.T (Nouvel Observatoire des Réalités Africaines et Togolaises)
