Togo opposition followers march in 4th day of rising tensions since disputed presidential vote

Togo protesters march over disputed election

LOME, Togo — Riot police fired tear gas at more than 1,000 opposition protesters who gathered in the capital Tuesday, the fourth day of rising tensions since the son of the former dictator was announced victorious in a disputed presidential election.

Tuesday’s march was banned by the government but top opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre has vowed to march every day to protest what he says was a fraudulent election.

Angry protesters, some of them clad in the bright yellow color of the top opposition party, hurled rocks and insults at the police, who carried shields, batons and tear gas canisters. The protesters chanted: “we want change, we want a new president.”

Saturday’s provisional results showed Fabre lost to incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe, who won 60.9 percent of the vote. Thursday’s election was only the second presidential vote held since the death of Gnassingbe’s father, who seized power in a 1967 coup and ruled the country for 38 years. His son seized power upon his death in 2005.

Gnassingbe’s victory extends the family’s rule into a 44th year and will mean the political dynasty will stay in power for nearly half a century.

“Their family, The Gnassigbes, are murderers,” said protester Jean Ahiagbedor, 28. “They took power by force, and they don’t want to leave. They eat three times a day. We can’t even afford to eat once. We’re tired of them, they need to leave.”

Another protester, 27-year-old mechanic Late Lawson, said he objected to the family’s long rule.

“Togo is not a kingdom,” he said. “They do not own this country. And we are not the renters of this nation, we own it too. We are going to take it back.”

The opposition has attempted to hold marches each day since Saturday, but a planned march on Monday was halted by police.

The European Union’s observation mission in Togo did not mention evidence of ballot stuffing or vote rigging — as the opposition alleges — in its preliminary report. But it did say there is evidence the ruling party may have tried to buy off voters by handing out rice to the country’s deeply impoverished people.