adminLome — Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, the current head of the Ecowas West African bloc, arrived in Togo on Tuesday on a mediation mission after the opposition complained of irregularities in Saturday’s presidential vote.Mahama was accompanied by Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, who would also take part in the talks between political parties, the Togolese presidency said.
Results from 11 of Togo’s 42 voting districts put President Faure Gnassingbe comfortably ahead of his opposition rivals, after he won nearly three-quarters of the valid votes counted. Togo’s main opposition candidate complained on Monday of widespread irregularities and called for the announcement of results to be halted. Gnassingbe is widely favoured to win a third term, extending his family’s long hold on power.
He has held the presidency since 2005.
Some observers voiced concern that mounting political tensions could lead to a repeat of electoral violence seen in 2005, when hundreds were killed. — Al Jazeera
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter