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Kpatcha Gnassingbé

April 11, 2024

Kpatcha Gnassingbé (born 6 September 1970[1]) is a Togolese politician. He is a son of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who was President of Togo from 1967 to 2005, and a brother of Faure Gnassingbé, who has been President since 2005. From 2005 to 2007, Kpatcha Gnassingbé was Minister of Defense. In April 2009, he was arrested on suspicion on plotting to overthrow his brother.

Political career edit

Gnassingbé was born in Lomé, the capital;[1] both of his parents were from northern Togo.[2] During his father's presidency, he was closely associated with the military[3] and worked as Director-General of the Company for the Administration of the Free Zone (SAZOF) in Lomé.[4][5] Upon his father's death in February 2005, his brother Faure assumed the presidency, and on 20 June 2005 Kpatcha was appointed to the government as Minister of Defense.[3][6]

In the October 2007 parliamentary election, Gnassingbé was the first candidate on the candidate list of the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) in Kozah Prefecture[1] and won a seat in the National Assembly.[7] However, he resigned from the National Assembly on 26 November 2007 due to incompatibility of functions, as he was still serving as Minister of Defense.[5]

Gnassingbé was excluded from the government that was appointed on 13 December 2007,[8] and subsequently he sought to regain his parliamentary seat. He therefore resigned as Director-General of SAZOF and as head of the board of directors of the Togolese Cotton Company (SOTOCO), and he informed the President of the National Assembly of his willingness to take his seat again on 12 February 2008; accordingly, the Constitutional Court restored him to his seat in a decision issued on 14 February 2008, as he no longer held any positions incompatible with the role of Deputy.[5]

Kpatcha Gnassingbé was viewed as a hard-liner within the RPT regime, while his brother Faure was seen as having more reformist tendencies.[9] He was a member of the RPT Political Bureau.[10]

2009 arrest and subsequent events edit

Kpatcha Gnassingbé's home was stormed by elite special forces on 12 April 2009, and two soldiers were reported killed in fighting there. The purpose of the assault was officially said to be the arrest of individuals allegedly involved in a plot "to undermine state security", and a number of arrests were reported. Soldiers returned to Gnassingbé's home on 14 April, although he was not present at the time. Gnassingbé sought asylum at the United States embassy in Lomé on 15 April, but the embassy refused to grant him asylum, and he was arrested at the scene by Togolese soldiers. According to state prosecutor Robert Bakai, there was "serious and corroborating evidence" indicating that Kpatcha Gnassingbé was behind a plot to overthrow his brother Faure.[9] Bakai said on 17 April that the conditions of Gnassingbé's detention were "acceptable" and "humane". He also described Gnassingbé as "a respectable citizen who has served the nation".[11]

The opposition Union of the Forces of Change (UFC) criticized the arrest, saying that Gnassingbé enjoyed parliamentary immunity. However, his case was legally treated as one of flagrante delicto; according to the constitution, deputies could be arrested and tried without the formal lifting of their immunity by a vote of the National Assembly only in cases of flagrante delicto.[12]

Faure Gnassingbé, speaking on state television on 17 April 2009, alleged the existence of a coup plot, saying that the coup was supposed to occur while he was out of the country on a visit to China. He did not specifically mention Kpatcha in that address.[13] Additional arrests followed in the subsequent weeks; those arrests reportedly included another brother, Essolizam Gnassingbé.[10]

Citing Gnassingbé's parliamentary immunity, the UFC appealed to the Constitutional Court regarding Gnassingbé's arrest on 26 October 2009, but the Court rejected the appeal on 4 November.[14]

In an interview with the news agency Agence France-Presse in February 2010, Faure Gnassingbé stressed the importance of "building a lawful state" when discussing his brother's case: "We could settle it in the family, more simple, but it is a question of credibility. We cannot say on one side we are for reforms and on the other settle such cases surreptitiously, on the side."[15]

In June 2021, a sick Kpatcha Gnassingbé asked to be released from prison. According to one of his lawyers, "a wound on his foot is getting worse" and Kpatcha Gnassingbé fears "amputation".

In March 2023, Kpatcha Gnassignbé was evacuated to Gabon so he could continue his medical treatments.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c List of 2007 candidates in Kozah[permanent dead link], CENI website (in French).
  2. ^ "First family's grip on Togo takes tense turn", AFP, 16 April 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Togo: Hardline Gnassingbe loyalists and opposition defectors dominate new government", IRIN, 21 June 2005.
  4. ^ "Togo: Gnassingbe digging in as the new front man for Togo's long-ruling elite", IRIN, 19 February 2005.
  5. ^ a b c "Kpatcha retrouve son siège"[permanent dead link], Republicoftogo.com, 15 February 2008 (in French).
  6. ^ "Leader's brother is Togo minister", BBC News, 21 June 2005.
  7. ^ Text of Constitutional Court decision (final election results) 2007-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, 30 October 2007 (in French).
  8. ^ "Léopold Gnininvi aux Affaires étrangères" 2007-12-18 at the Wayback Machine, Republicoftogo.com, 13 December 2007 (in French).
  9. ^ a b "Togo president's brother charged over alleged plot", AFP, 15 April 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Cops nab ten civilians over Togo coup", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 1 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Togo leader's brother humanely held : prosecutor", AFP, 17 April 2009.
  12. ^ "Flagrant délit"[permanent dead link], Republicoftogo.com, 15 April 2009 (in French).
  13. ^ "Togo's president denounces 'coup attempt'", AFP, 17 April 2009.
  14. ^ "Saisine des députés de l’UFC : la décision de la Cour constitutionnelle"[permanent dead link], Republicoftogo.com, 4 November 2009 (in French).
  15. ^ Jacques Lhuillery, "Togo's polls big test for legitimacy: president", AFP, 20 February 2010.
  16. ^ https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230329-togo-des-ong-esp%C3%A8rent-que-l-%C3%A9vacuation-de-kpatcha-gnassingb%C3%A9-apporte-des-changements-politiques

April 11, 2024
kpatcha, gnassingbé, born, september, 1970, togolese, politician, gnassingbé, eyadéma, president, togo, from, 1967, 2005, brother, faure, gnassingbé, been, president, since, 2005, from, 2005, 2007, minister, defense, april, 2009, arrested, suspicion, plotting,. Kpatcha Gnassingbe born 6 September 1970 1 is a Togolese politician He is a son of Gnassingbe Eyadema who was President of Togo from 1967 to 2005 and a brother of Faure Gnassingbe who has been President since 2005 From 2005 to 2007 Kpatcha Gnassingbe was Minister of Defense In April 2009 he was arrested on suspicion on plotting to overthrow his brother Political career editGnassingbe was born in Lome the capital 1 both of his parents were from northern Togo 2 During his father s presidency he was closely associated with the military 3 and worked as Director General of the Company for the Administration of the Free Zone SAZOF in Lome 4 5 Upon his father s death in February 2005 his brother Faure assumed the presidency and on 20 June 2005 Kpatcha was appointed to the government as Minister of Defense 3 6 In the October 2007 parliamentary election Gnassingbe was the first candidate on the candidate list of the Rally of the Togolese People RPT in Kozah Prefecture 1 and won a seat in the National Assembly 7 However he resigned from the National Assembly on 26 November 2007 due to incompatibility of functions as he was still serving as Minister of Defense 5 Gnassingbe was excluded from the government that was appointed on 13 December 2007 8 and subsequently he sought to regain his parliamentary seat He therefore resigned as Director General of SAZOF and as head of the board of directors of the Togolese Cotton Company SOTOCO and he informed the President of the National Assembly of his willingness to take his seat again on 12 February 2008 accordingly the Constitutional Court restored him to his seat in a decision issued on 14 February 2008 as he no longer held any positions incompatible with the role of Deputy 5 Kpatcha Gnassingbe was viewed as a hard liner within the RPT regime while his brother Faure was seen as having more reformist tendencies 9 He was a member of the RPT Political Bureau 10 2009 arrest and subsequent events edit Kpatcha Gnassingbe s home was stormed by elite special forces on 12 April 2009 and two soldiers were reported killed in fighting there The purpose of the assault was officially said to be the arrest of individuals allegedly involved in a plot to undermine state security and a number of arrests were reported Soldiers returned to Gnassingbe s home on 14 April although he was not present at the time Gnassingbe sought asylum at the United States embassy in Lome on 15 April but the embassy refused to grant him asylum and he was arrested at the scene by Togolese soldiers According to state prosecutor Robert Bakai there was serious and corroborating evidence indicating that Kpatcha Gnassingbe was behind a plot to overthrow his brother Faure 9 Bakai said on 17 April that the conditions of Gnassingbe s detention were acceptable and humane He also described Gnassingbe as a respectable citizen who has served the nation 11 The opposition Union of the Forces of Change UFC criticized the arrest saying that Gnassingbe enjoyed parliamentary immunity However his case was legally treated as one of flagrante delicto according to the constitution deputies could be arrested and tried without the formal lifting of their immunity by a vote of the National Assembly only in cases of flagrante delicto 12 Faure Gnassingbe speaking on state television on 17 April 2009 alleged the existence of a coup plot saying that the coup was supposed to occur while he was out of the country on a visit to China He did not specifically mention Kpatcha in that address 13 Additional arrests followed in the subsequent weeks those arrests reportedly included another brother Essolizam Gnassingbe 10 Citing Gnassingbe s parliamentary immunity the UFC appealed to the Constitutional Court regarding Gnassingbe s arrest on 26 October 2009 but the Court rejected the appeal on 4 November 14 In an interview with the news agency Agence France Presse in February 2010 Faure Gnassingbe stressed the importance of building a lawful state when discussing his brother s case We could settle it in the family more simple but it is a question of credibility We cannot say on one side we are for reforms and on the other settle such cases surreptitiously on the side 15 In June 2021 a sick Kpatcha Gnassingbe asked to be released from prison According to one of his lawyers a wound on his foot is getting worse and Kpatcha Gnassingbe fears amputation In March 2023 Kpatcha Gnassignbe was evacuated to Gabon so he could continue his medical treatments 16 References edit a b c List of 2007 candidates in Kozah permanent dead link CENI website in French First family s grip on Togo takes tense turn AFP 16 April 2009 a b Togo Hardline Gnassingbe loyalists and opposition defectors dominate new government IRIN 21 June 2005 Togo Gnassingbe digging in as the new front man for Togo s long ruling elite IRIN 19 February 2005 a b c Kpatcha retrouve son siege permanent dead link Republicoftogo com 15 February 2008 in French Leader s brother is Togo minister BBC News 21 June 2005 Text of Constitutional Court decision final election results Archived 2007 11 29 at the Wayback Machine 30 October 2007 in French Leopold Gnininvi aux Affaires etrangeres Archived 2007 12 18 at the Wayback Machine Republicoftogo com 13 December 2007 in French a b Togo president s brother charged over alleged plot AFP 15 April 2009 a b Cops nab ten civilians over Togo coup Sapa AFP IOL 1 May 2009 Togo leader s brother humanely held prosecutor AFP 17 April 2009 Flagrant delit permanent dead link Republicoftogo com 15 April 2009 in French Togo s president denounces coup attempt AFP 17 April 2009 Saisine des deputes de l UFC la decision de la Cour constitutionnelle permanent dead link Republicoftogo com 4 November 2009 in French Jacques Lhuillery Togo s polls big test for legitimacy president AFP 20 February 2010 https www rfi fr fr afrique 20230329 togo des ong esp C3 A8rent que l C3 A9vacuation de kpatcha gnassingb C3 A9 apporte des changements politiques Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kpatcha Gnassingbe amp oldid 1194760470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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