(Togo First) - During the just-ended Conference of Ecowas Heads of States and Governments held in Lomé last Tuesday, various recommendations were adopted to ensure the end of political crises in Togo.

First, the conference congratulated the crisis’ facilitators, namely Ghana and Guinea’s Presidents, Nana Akufo-Addo and Alpha Condé, for their achievements in the framework of the mission they were trusted with during the previous meeting held on April 14, 2018. It also lauded commitments of the various parties concerned, in regards to the resolution of the crisis. However, it urges Togo’s government to continue making efforts to boost trust and appease tensions, by accelerating legal procedures related to those arrested during past political protests. The conference recommends that the government looks at additional measures to favor the detained, all to ensure peace and stability in Togo.

The Conference also condemns acts of violence, urging protesters to return all weapons stolen from the police and other security forces. Still to ensure sustainable peace, the conference requested that political actors and civil society refrain from issuing any statements or taking any action that might spark new conflicts, thus impairing efforts made so far.

Similarly, Ecowas heads of States and governments’ summit “calls security forces to remain professional while working to protect goods and people”. Another point the summit insists on is the full revision of the electoral registry. It has actually urged the government to proceed to this revision before the next legislative elections on December 20, 2018.

Regarding constitutional reforms, the summit calls all political actors and the government to work to adopt the two-turn election model for Presidential elections, reduce to two the maximum number of presidential mandates, recompose the Constitutional Court, set a maximum number of terms for its members and improving electoral process.

Concerning elections, African heads of States and governments say they are happy with the “measures planned by Togo’s government” in the framework of their preparations, organization and conduct. The leaders believe the polls will take place in transparent, credible and open conditions.

Some of these measures include accelerating and finalizing electoral census to get a reliable voters list, enabling Togolese living outside the country to vote during coming elections and deploying election observers.

Ecowas leaders also congratulated opposition in Togo for its openness and sense of responsibility and for having agreed to discuss ways to meet its claims. Same goes for President Gnassingbé whom the conference applauded for collaborating with all competent authorities and institutions to end the crisis, peacefully.

Still in order to solve what Togo is going through at the moment, these leaders urged all involved parties to respect the constitution in place. To this end, the Summit requested, via a public statement, Ecowas’ support and technical expertise in the coming elections.

Ecowas leaders again pledged their support to the mediators of the political dialogue in Togo while asking these mediators to keep on going with their efforts and submit a report of their progress at the next session of the conference.

To ensure that these recommendations are followed, a follow-up committee regrouping representatives of the mediators, of the ruling party, of the opposition (a coalition of 14 parties) and of the Ecowas commission, will be set up.