TOGO: THE FRAC IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE FRAC

UNCLAS LOME 000097 SIPDIS AF/W - ASHLEY STEWART, AF/PDPA - MOLLY SANCHEZ CROWE PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV TO SUBJECT: TOGO: THE FRAC IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE FRAC REF: LOME 084 ¶1. As noted in Reftel, the Republican Front for Change, the alliance formed during a February 9 - 10 meeting of the opposition candidates in Paris between the Union of Forces for Change (UFC), the Organization of a United Togo (OBUTS),and SURSAUT-Togo, disintegrated in less than a week. However, on February 17, with great fanfare, a new alliance was announced under the slightly different name of Front Republicain pour l'Alternance et le Changement (FRAC). The FRAC is an alliance between the UFC, SURSAUT-Togo, and three small parties which do not have candidates in the race. Its primary purpose is to support the UFC candidate, Jean Pierre Fabre. None of the larger opposition parties have joined the FRAC; the five other opposition candidates are fully engaged in their own campaigns. Patrick Lawson, first Vice-President of the UFC, has been named Fabre's campaign manager and Kofi Yamgnane (SURSAUT-Togo) serves as FRAC's spokesman. Following the announcement of the FRAC, Fabre's campaign kicked off on Friday, February 19, despite the lack of endorsement from UFC president and original candidate, Gilchrist Olympio. ¶2. By forming this alliance, Fabre seeks to portray himself as the unique candidate for the opposition. Although, the UFC is still firmly convinced that its candidate will prevail in any election that is free and fair, FRAC provides a broader support base as the member parties have followers in regions where the UFC is weak. In addition, given Gilchrist Olympio's initial lack of endorsement for Fabre's candidacy and some members of UFC refusing to support Fabre without Olympio's explicit approval, FRAC provided another banner that Fabre could wave. FRAC's declared objective is to work together, campaign together, organize together, and govern together. According to its founders, FRAC welcomes people of all walks of life to "take a part in the liberation of Togo" and fight against corruption, violence, and impunity. They message of working together is not unique to the FRAC, it is being used in several campaigns, most notably the Faure campaign. -------------- Gilchrist Olympio Endorses Fabre's Candidacy -------------- ¶3. After weeks of silence, on Sunday, February 21, Gilchrist Olympio issued a statement endorsing Jean Pierre Fabre as UFC's presidential candidate. Declaring that a UFC victory would signify a victory of all the democratic forces of Togo, Olympio called on members of the UFC to support Fabre. Olympio noted that Fabre is committed to the same goals as the UFC: the promotion of public health measures, improvement in the infrastructure and security of the country, and a reduction of poverty for the Togolese people. As the president of the UFC and historical leader of the opposition, Olympio's endorsement was crucial to Fabre's legitimacy as the candidate of the UFC, by far the largest opposition party. Whether all members of the UFC will fall solidly in-line behind Fabre remains to be seen; the past few weeks have revealed major fissures in the UFC with some members publicly expressing their opposition to Fabre. In addition, the future of the FRAC is in question; if Fabre no longer sees the need for the alliance now that he has Olympio's endorsement, the new FRAC may have as short a life span as the first. HAWKINS