The Catholic Bishops of Togo have called for national constitutional and institutional reforms in view of parliamentary elections scheduled for 20 December, this year. This would be in keeping with the roadmap of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The call by the Togolese Bishops emanates from their just ended plenary assembly of the Conférence épiscopale du Togo (CET), which saw the prelates gathered in Lomé and Aného from 12 to 16 November. The Bishops took time to address themselves to the socio-political situation prevailing the in the country.
As reported by Vatican news, In a statement released at the end of their third ordinary session for 2018, the CET expressed concern about the electoral process in the manner it is being conducted by the electoral body, the Commission électorale nationale indépendante (CENI). “It is obvious that the conduct of the elections without the necessary reforms will not solve the challenges facing the Togolese people but will, in fact, exacerbate tension and violence,” reads part of the statement.
The Togolese Bishops further say that “the unilateral preparation for the elections (underway), violates some provisions contained in the ECOWAS roadmap and risks bringing the country back into the chaos (of past elections).” The ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government published, at the end of July this year, a roadmap meant to help Togo navigate its way out of the current political crisis towards stability. On 9 November the government adopted a constitutional reform project that includes presidential elections and provides for the possibility of two more presidential mandates. In September 2017 the parliamentary opposition rejected the text that would allow President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his mandate possibly from 2020 and even into 2025.
Source: Vatican news
