IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: “Information on whether Gilchrist Olympio, leader of the Union for Change (UFC), has returned to Togo since his departure in May 1992 [TGO18930.E]”, Document #1020470

Information on whether Gilchrist Olympio, leader of the Union for Change (UFC), has returned to Togo since his departure in May 1992 [TGO18930.E]

Information available to the DIRB indicates that Gilchrist Olympio, leader of the Union for Change (UFC) has not returned to Togo since his departure in May 1992. According to an Inter Press Service (IPS) report of 19 August 1993, Olympio narrowly escaped death when his convey was ambushed in northern Togo, allegely by Eyadema loyalists. He reportedly spent many months recovering in a Paris hospital (IPS 15 Mar. 1994).

Olympio was barred from contesting the country's recent presidential elections on medical grounds (IPS 19 Aug. 1993; Reuters 11 Aug. 1993). Olympio reportedly wanted to return to Togo through Ghana to contest the elections, but Ghana stopped him for fear that he might be assassinated (Reuters 11 Aug. 1993). An IPS report states that it would have been difficult for him to return as the military regime had apparently issued a warrant for his arrest after President Eyadema accused him of masterminding an insurrection in March 1993 (IPS 19 Aug 1993). As a result, the UFC boycotted the elections (Reuters 25 Nov. 1993). This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Inter Press Service (IPS). 15 March 1994. Peter da Costa. "Togo-Politics: Opposition Win Raises Prospect of Power-Sharing." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 August 1993. Peter da Costa. "Togo: Political Intrigue Does Not Augur Well for Multi-partyism." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 25 November 1993. BC Cycle. Apedo Amah. "Togo Blocks Visit by Foreign Parliamentarians." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 August 1993. BC Cycle. "Togo Too Dangerous, Ghanaians Tell Olympio." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Inter Press Service (IPS). 15 March 1994. Peter da Costa. "Togo-Politics: Opposition Win Raises Prospect of Power-Sharing." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 August. 1993. Peter da Costa. "Togo: Political Intrigue Does Not Augur Well for Multi-partyism." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 25 November 1993. BC Cycle. Apedo Amah. "Togo Blocks Visit by Foreign Parliamentarians." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 August 1993. BC Cycle. "Togo Too Dangerous, Ghanaians Tell Olympio." (NEXIS)