The Union of Forces for Change (UFC) is a coalition of eight opposition parties, headed by Gichrist Olympio (ARB May 1998, 13071; DPA 21 June 1998; West Africa 4 - 17 May 1998; 442), who also happens to be the son of Togo's first president, Sylvanus Olympio, who was killed during a military coup in 1963 (ARB May 1998, 13071; DPA 27 June 1998; ibid., 23 June 1998).

In 1992 Gilchrist Olympio narrowly escaped an assassination attempt (ARB May 1998, 13071; DPA 21 June 1998). He then escaped to Ghana where he lived in exile until April 1998 when he returned to Togo to contest the June 1998 presidential election, but lost to President Gnassingbe Eyadema (ARB May 1998, 13071; AFP 29 Apr. 1998; DPA 23 June 1998). According to foreign monitors, however, it was Olympio who won the election. Olympio himself claimed that his count "showed him winning 59 percent of the vote, compared to Eyadema's 30 percent" (The Washington Post 25 June 1998; DPA 27 June 1998).

Following the announcement of the election results, supporters of the opposition parties demonstrated in the streets of Lome. Reports differ, but according to a 26 June 1998 AFP report, one person was killed and 30 others, including nine gendarmes injured. However, DPA of 27 June 1998 states that "several people were reportedly injured when police raided the Lome headquarters of Olympio's Union of Forces for Change (UFC), including its vice-chairman Emmanuel Atikami." Another leader is Jean-Pierre Fabre, UFC Secretary-General, who was arrested "in connection with an investigation into a case involving the taking of pictures of dead bodies for unspecified purposes" but released the following day (Africa No. 1 Radio, 25 Dec. 1997).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Africa No. 1 Radio [Libreville, in French]. 25 December 1997. "Released Opposition Figure Comments on Reason for His Detention." (BBC Summary 30 Dec. 1997/NEXIS)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social, and Cultural Series [Oxford]. May 1998. "Togo: Presidential Candidates."

Agence France Presse (AFP). 26 June 1998. "One Dead in Togo Post-Election Clashes." (NEXIS)

_____ [Paris, in English]. 27 April 1998. "Gilchrist Olympio Returns from Exile, Announces Candidacy for Elections" (BBC Summary 29 Apr. 1998/NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 27 June 1998. "Togo Opposition Petitions Constitutional Court." (NEXIS)

_____. 23 June 1998. "Togo Opposition Leader Olympio Claims Victory in Polls." (NEXIS)

_____. 21 June 1998. "Ballots Missing in Togo's Presidential Election." (NEXIS)

Washington Post. 25 June 1998. James Rupert. "Reelection of Togo's President Draws Protests; Longtime Leader Halts Ballot Count, Crushing Hopes for First Free Election." (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 4 - 17 May 1998. "Togo: Testing Eyadema's Will."