LM Report 2001

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TOGO

Key developments since May 2000: Togo became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 September 2000, but has not yet adopted national measures to implement the treaty or submitted its first Article 7 transparency report. In December 2000, four local NGOs established the Togolese Campaign to Ban Antipersonnel Mines.

Mine Ban Policy

Togo signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, ratified it on 9 March 2000 and became a State Party on 1 September 2000. National implementing legislation has not yet been adopted, although at the end of November 2000 the Minister of Defense had stated that measures would shortly be taken on the matter.^[1] According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an interministerial commission has to be set up; this will include the participation of NGOs in the preparation of a draft text.^[2]

Togo has taken a clear public stance against antipersonnel mines. At the beginning of 2001, in an official statement on security and development in Africa, Togolese President Gnassingbé Eyadema declared that antipersonnel mines “must be and remain unreservedly outlawed.” He cited antipersonnel mines as one of the major reasons for underdevelopment in Africa, and called for continued support for the ICBL “with the firmest determination and without condition by the whole of the African States.”^[3]

On 25-29 November 2000, Togo hosted the sub-regional Landmine Monitor Researchers’ Meeting, officially opened by the Ministry of Defense. General Assani Tidjani, the Togolese Minister of Defense, declared that “it must be perfectly clear that this means [antipersonnel mines] has to be definitely proscribed and banned forever from our armies.”^[4]

In November 2000, at the United Nations General Assembly, Togo voted in favor of Resolution 55/33v, which calls for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.

Togo did not take part in the Second Meeting of States Parties in September 2000, reportedly because of lack of funding.^[5] It has not participated in any of the meetings of the intersessional Standing Committees. However, a representative of the Ministry of Defense attended the Bamako Seminar on the Universalization and Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Africa, held in Mali on 15-16 February 2001.^[6]

Togo was due to submit its first transparency report as required by Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 by 28 February 2001. In November 2000, the Ministry of Defense said that Togo would submit it on time,^[7] but as of July 2001 it had not been received by the UN. One official blamed the delay on a lack of regular consultation on the issue between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, and also the lack of organization in the section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of the transparency reports.^[8]

Togo adhered to the Convention on Conventional Weapons on 4 December 1995 and the three original Protocols, but has not adhered to Amended Protocol II.

Togo has not produced or exported antipersonnel mines. The country has a “small” stock of antipersonnel mines for military training purposes,^[9] but it is not known how many. Togo claims never to have used antipersonnel mines.^[10]

Landmine Problem

Togo is not affected by landmines and there are no reports of any mine victims.

Togo reportedly has some explosive ordnance disposal expertise and rudimentary mine-clearance equipment.^[11]

NGO Activity

On 28 December 2000, four local NGOs^[12] set up the Togolese Campaign to Ban Antipersonnel Mines.^[13] Through radio broadcasts and the newspapers, the Campaign is informing the Togolese population about the regional and global antipersonnel mine problem and the provisions of the Mine Ban Treaty. Although the Campaign had no official status at the time, its members strongly lobbied the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty in March 2000. The members also wrote to the Executive President of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and other Heads of State on the occasion of the 36^th OAU conference in Lomé in July 2000. The campaign is now planning to provide support to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense in the drafting of national implementation measures.^[14]

^[1] Statement of General Assani Tidjani, Minister of National Defense and War Veterans, at the opening ceremony of sub-regional Landmine Monitor researchers’ meeting, Lomé, Togo, 28 November 2000.
^[2] Interview with Franck Kpayedo, Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lomé, 21 November 2000.
^[3] Statement of Gnassingbé Eyadema, President of Togo and President-in-office of the Organization of African Unity, “Coopération en Matière de Sécurité en Afrique et Développement Harmonieux”, French-African Summit meeting, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 17-19 January 2001. See Togo-Presse (Togolese national newspaper), No. 5950, 22 January 2001, p. 5.
^[4] Statement of General Assani Tidjani, Minister of National Defense and War Veterans, at the opening ceremony of sub-regional Landmine Monitor Researchers’ meeting, Lomé, Togo, 28 November 2000.
^[5] Interview with Franck Kpayedo, Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lomé, 21 November 2000.
^[6] Lt. Col. Kouma Bitenwe, Cabinet of the Minister, Ministry of National Defense and War Veterans.
^[7] Statement of General Assani Tidjani, Minister of National Defense and War Veterans, at the opening ceremony of sub-regional Landmine Monitor researchers’ meeting, Lomé, Togo, 28 November 2000. A similar commitment was made during the 21^st French-African Summit meeting, Coopération en Matière de Sécurité en Afrique et Développement Harmonieux. Statement of Gnassingbé Eyadema, President of Togo and President-in-office of the Organization of African Unity, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 17-19 January 2001. See Togo-Presse (Togolese national newspaper), No. 5950, 22 January 2001, p. 5.
^[8] Interview with member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lomé, Togo, November 2000.
^[9] Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 112.
^[10] Ibid.
^[11] Ibid.
^[12] The Campaign was created on the initiative of JURIS-CLUB and includes the following organizations: “Droits et Devoirs en Démocratie,” “Droits de l’Enfant et de la Femme International” and “Espace Juridique pour le Bien-Etre Social.”
^[13] Campagne Togolaise pour Interdire les Mines Antipersonnel (CTIMAP).
^[14] Interview with Yawo Edo Afomale, CTIMAP Communication Officer, Lomé, Togo, 10 February 2001.

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