ECOWAS Deploys Fact-Finding Mission to Togo Prior to Elections

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, has authorized the dispatch of a Fact-Finding Mission to Togo ahead of the legislative and regional elections scheduled for April 29, 2024.

In a statement dated April 16, 2024, ECOWAS announced that the Mission will conduct a pre-electoral assessment in accordance with community texts, retracting an earlier communiqué that indicated otherwise.

This Fact-Finding Mission aligns with Article 12 of the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, Article 53 (c) of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, and a Decision by the Authority of Heads of State and Government authorizing pre-electoral missions to Member States organizing elections.

Led by Maman Sambo Sidikou, former Representative of the African Union in Mali and the Sahel, the Mission will engage with key stakeholders in the electoral process during its stay in Togo from April 15 to 20. These stakeholders include the leadership of State institutions and agencies, political parties, the election management body, civil society organizations, the media, and partners.

The Mission will compile its findings and recommendations into a report for submission to the President of the ECOWAS Commission. The report will guide decisions and actions, potentially including the deployment of an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the legislative and regional elections.