After holding back from making a comment on the political crisis in Togo, regional body Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has now officially spoken, calling for dialogue and a reform of Togo’s constitution to allow for presidential term limits, which was scrapped two years ago.
Everyone had been waiting for ECOWAS’ reaction because incidentally, the Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé is the chairperson of the body.
Head of the ECOWAS Commission Marcel Alain de Souza now says he has met with all sides including President Gnassingbe, and that everyone agrees on the need for dialogue and reform.
The country’s head of parliament says it will now bypass certain procedures so as to speed up work on the reform bill.
Debate on the bill is expected to commence in the coming weeks to get a speedy passage.
One contentious issue the country would have to deal with is whether President Gnassingbe would be barred from benefiting from the new bill when it becomes law.
He is into the second year of a third five-year term. And the opposition is insisting he should at least step down after completing his current term.
