Togolese Protest IX – Speech in German

A group of Togolese protesters chose the World Climate Conference in Bonn (COP23) as an occasion to protest against the Togolese president Faure Gnassingbé, whose family has been in power for more than 50 years. Gnassingbé held regular elections since 2005. However, the opposition claims that he has been kept in his position by election fraud.

The protesters demanded Faure Gnassingbés resignation and asked the participating countries of the World Climate Conference not to negotiate with his representatives as they were representing a criminal and repressive regime. Moreover, they denounced the ongoing exploitation of the African continent by European and other western countries.

Their march, which was accompanied by various speeches in both French and German as well as chants and singing, began at Kaiserplatz in Bonn and followed Kaiserstraße towards the World Conference Centre.

This is a recording of a speech in German. The speaker talks about the Gnassingbé family being in power for 50 years in Togo. He says that since opponents are not allowed to protest peacefully in Togo they are protesting in Germany. Moreover, he claims that European countries have invited “criminals” from Togo, Gambon and Congo to negotiate business with them. He demands from the European countries to negotiate with the refugees and immigrants about the future of the African continent rather than with the political regimes of their home countries. He claims that this is the only way of preventing more refugees from coming to Europe. He demands change!

The speaker speaks through a microphone. He is accompanied by an electric siren and calls of approval from his fellow protesters.

Sound and Photos: Kathinka Engels