COTONOU (Dahomey): The Togolese Army seized power in an apparently bloodless coup at dawn today [Jan 13]. It said it could “no longer tolerate the political confusion which was pushing the French-speaking west African country towards possible civil war”.

The leader of the coup is the Army’s young, energetic Chief of Staff, Colonel Etienne Eyadema, 29-year-old professional soldier who fought in the French Army in his teens in Indo-China and in Algeria.

He said in a message, broadcast by the radio, that a deep political malaise had pervaded the country for the past four years and he had asked the Army to take over all civil, political and military powers.

The Army dissolved the National Assembly (Parliament), suspended the Constitution, proclaimed a state of emergency and clamped a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the country.

A proclamation broadcast by the Army also announced the release of people detained after an abortive coup attempt against President Grunitzky last November.

The Army said it had decided to seize control to end political confusion which was “creating a psychosis of imminent civil war” in the country.

The proclamation said a “National Reconcilia­tion Committee” would be set up to pave the way for general elections in about three months.

The Army would then withdraw from the political scene, once the elections are held.

There was no immediate official indication of what had happened to President Nicolas Grunitzky, but unofficial reports coming out of Togo said he had resigned.

Mr Nicolas Grunitzky, 53, was Togo’s second President, having come to power in 1963 after the assassination of his brother-in-law, Mr Sylvanua Olympio.

Published in Dawn January 14th, 2017