Lomé-Dakar, September 30, 2024: Human rights organizations strongly condemn the attack on parliamentarians Guy Marius SAGNA, Brigitte ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, journalists and political opponents at the headquarters of the African Peoples' Democratic Convention (CDPA).
The signatory organizations of this press release have learned with dismay of the assault on parliamentarians Guy Marius SAGNA and Brigitte ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, as well as journalists and political opponents at the headquarters of the African Peoples' Democratic Convention (CDPA) in Lomé, Togo.
Present in Lomé, where he is taking part in the 3rd extraordinary session of the Commission of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), MP Guy Marius SAGNA, responded to an invitation to a meeting with the Dynamique pour la Majorité du Peuple (DMP), a platform of the Togolese political opposition.
On the afternoon of September 29, 2024, while the meeting was being held at the headquarters of the African Peoples' Democratic Convention (CDPA), it was violently disrupted by an attack on ECOWAS parliamentarian Guy Marius SAGNA, Togolese National Assembly deputy Brigitte ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, Mr. Sambiri TARGONE of the DMP, militants, other citizens and journalists who had come to take part in the meeting.
The violent attack left several people injured, including MPs Guy Marius SAGNA and Brigitte ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, and Mr. Sambiri TARGONE, and caused extensive material damage, including at least one vandalized car.
The health situation of MP Guy Marius SAGNA determined his evacuation to a health facility where he was hospitalized.
Journalists who had gone to CDPA headquarters to cover the event were not spared: The working equipment used to cover the event was confiscated from some of them and thrown down a well.
The signatories hereby declare that Mrs Brigitte ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, Member of the National Assembly of Togo, is covered by national immunity.
Mr Guy Marius SAGNA, MP for the Republic of Senegal and member of the ECOWAS Parliament, is protected by national immunity and a second immunity at Community level.
A cross-check of the facts shows that the perpetrators of the attack left the scene with their faces uncovered, making them easily identifiable.
The September 29, 2024 assault is :
I. A violation of the Togolese Constitution, which states :
A. In its First Title entitled "On the State and Sovereignty", Article 2 paragraph 2: "It [the Togolese Republic] respects all political, philosophical and religious opinions."
B. In its Annex dedicated to "the solemn declaration of the fundamental rights and duties of persons and citizens", notably Section 1 devoted to Rights, Article 5 paragraphs 1 and 2 on freedom of thought, opinion, expression and communication, and Article 9 on freedom of assembly and public demonstration. Section 2 on Duties reinforces this protection in Article 25, which states: "Citizens shall ensure respect for the rights and freedoms of other citizens and the safeguarding of public order.
II. A violation of the provisions of the Supplementary Act A/SA.1/12/16 on the reinforcement of the prerogatives of the ECOWAS Parliament adopted in Abuja on December 17, 2016, in particular Article 4 on the Objectives of the ECOWAS Parliament.
III. A violation of Togo's regional commitments, in particular :
A. Articles 2, 3.2, 4, 5, 8 to 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
B. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights' Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly.
C. A violation of Togo's international commitments, including article 5 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which rejects any restriction on the enjoyment of human rights, article 19 on freedom of expression and article 21 on the right of peaceful assembly.
In view of all the above, the signatory organizations express their sympathy to all the victims.
The signatories of this press release :
1. Strongly condemn the fact that a peaceful meeting at the headquarters of a political party can constitute an open door to physical aggression against people and destruction of property.
2. Call on the Togolese authorities to assume their responsibilities in order to clarify the conditions of this aggression, to establish who is responsible and to compensate the victims.
3. Urge the Togolese authorities to ensure compliance with the national and international human rights commitments to which Togo has freely subscribed.
Signatories :
- West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/WAHRDN)
- Togolese Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CTDDH)
- Senegalese Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CoSeDDH)