BY LOU SIFA

(Reporting by Justin Anago)

Former Togolese prime minister and the country’s main opposition leader, Agbéyomé Kodjo, was arrested yesterday, soon after proclaiming himself president based on the claim that he was the winner of the 22 February presidential election, instead of the outgoing president, Faure Gnassingbé, whom the Togolese Independent National Electoral Commission proclaimed the victor.

Kodjo’s decision to proclaim himself president did not surprise many, especially other members of the Togolese opposition The African spoke to after the former prime minister’s decision. In fact, some said they were surprised it took him two months, after he claimed victory on 22 February right after the first round of voting, while the votes were still being counted.

“We have won the election,” he told The African during a brief telephone conversation on 23 February. Talking to the local press, a confident Kodjo said he’s convinced to “lead this country” in a week. The former prime minister also mentioned the alleged fraud that has marred the election, adding “it is impossible for the outgoing candidate to be elected in the first round.”

All these allegations were dismissed by the Togolese Independent National Electoral Commission 24 hours later.

Tchambakou Ayassor, president of the commission, announced that the outgoing president received 72.36% of the votes, way ahead of Agbéyomé Kodjo who is credited with only 18,37%. President Faure, according the results in the commission’s hands, has won with more than 16 points compared to the 2015 election where he won by 61%. The turn-out rate was 76.63%, a hefty 14 points higher than the 2015 election. The Constitutional Court confirmed these provisional results a week later, thus opening the door for a new five-year term for Gnassingbé.

So, taken aback by Kodjo proclaiming himself president after weeks of foul cries, the authorities arrested him yesterday, with a massive military deployment.

According to eye-witnesses accounts—which our inquiries later confirmed—heavily-armed soldiers numbering 200, all dressed in black and wearing masks, blockaded the entire neighborhood Monday, then broke into the former prime minister resident yesterday, reportedly beat some of the people present and arrested Kodjo and several others.

Kodjo had been summoned to the Togolese “Service de Renseignement et d’Investigation” but did not show up, claiming poor health, and was represented by his lawyer. Another date was set for his appearance at 9 p.m. yesterday, but the arrest happened before that.

Political power in Togo has so far been wielded by President Gnassingbé’s family for fifty-three years. Faure Gnassingbé succeeded his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who had ruled the country for 38 years and died in office. The son rose to the presidency in 2005 after a flawed election that triggered large-scale violence, causing between 300 and 500 deaths, according to the U.N. Faure Gnassingbé, 53, who holds an MBA from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., won re-election in March 2010—yet another contested election—and a second re-election five years later that the opposition claimed was also stolen.