A meeting on Thursday between Togo’s new military-installed leader, Faure Gnassingbe, with his fiercest critic of his accession to power, the chairperson of the African Union, Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, has ended, officials said.
Details of their talks were unknown but Obasanjo’s spokesperson Oluremi Oyo promised to brief journalists later in the day on the outcome of the leaders’ meeting, held behind closed doors.
After the talks, Obasanjo and the Togolese leader went for a lunch break, after which the latter was expected to leave the country, officials said.
Gnassingbe, Africa’s newest leader who was hoisted into office last week after the death of his autocratic father Gnassingbe Eyadema, earlier on Thursday flew into the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for talks with Obasanjo.
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has threatened Togo with sanctions, including its possible expulsion from the 15-nation bloc, if young Gnassingbe does not take rapid steps to restore constitutional rule.
Gnassingbe was sworn in on February 7 at the behest of the army after Parliament brushed aside a Constitution that calls for the speaker of the Assembly to act as head of state pending elections to be held within 60 days.
Togo’s Ecowas neighbours have led a chorus of international condemnation of the power-play and Nigeria has been the most vociferous in its disapproval of what it calls Gnassingbe’s ”coup d’état”
Obasanjo’s aides boast that the Nigerian leader has ”zero tolerance for military juntas” and have done nothing to dispel rumours that Abuja would consider taking military action if it had international support.
The region’s military and economic giant has recalled its ambassador from Togo, a tiny republic of 4,7-million people wedged between Ghana and Benin, and has slapped travel restrictions on Togolese officials.
Nigeria has also demanded and has received an apology from Gnassingbe for his officials’ decision last week not to allow a Nigerian presidential jet carrying a team of diplomats and officials to land at Lome. — Sapa-AFP