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Togo arrests

Kpatcha Gnassingbé charged with plotting to overthrow government

Article published on the 2009-04-16 Latest update 2009-04-16 13:12 TU

Kpatcha Gnassingbe in Lomé, January 2006(Photo: AFP)

Kpatcha Gnassingbe in Lomé, January 2006
(Photo: AFP)

The brother of Togo's President Faure Gnassingbé has been charged with plotting to overthrow the government after being arrested on Wednesday. Tensions have run high since an attack on the home of Kpatcha Gnassingbé.

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There were raids on his house on Tuesday, but he managed to elude the paramilitary forces until they detained him as he tried to enter the US embassy in Lomé.

The US embassy said it refused asylum to Kpatcha, although it urged the country to respect his constitutional rights.

Since the death of their father in 2005, the brothers’ relationship has deteriorated, and although Faure was appointed by his late father, he stepped down to allow for elections, which he duly won.

According to security sources, a third brother, Rock Gnassingbé tried to stop Sunday’s attack on Kpatcha’s house.  Rock Gnassingbé is the commander of an artillery unit,

The President called off a trip to China scheduled to start on Sunday.