Some think heir-apparent Faure Gnassingbé  son of the deceased dictator Gnassingbé Eyadéma  may have cut a deal with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  shortly before he vacated the position of Interim Head of State just three weeks after his father's death on 5 February...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	        AU and Ecowas censure  Since Faure's installation by the army following the death of his father Gnassingbé Eyadéma on 5 February  Obasanjo and Konaré have consistently condemned Faure Gnassingbé's take-over  and have pushed the strong line that has emerged from both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the AU  which on 25 February imposed sanctions pending a return to constitutional rule...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	     When he died on 5 February  President Gnassingbé Eyadéma had been in power for 38 years  resisting pressure for change and exploiting his status as Africa's longest-serving leader to the full...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	    After years of affording President Gnassingbé Eyadéma the respect due to Africa's longest serving head of state  the international community has come down hard on the machinations that allowed his son Faure Gnassingbé to take over...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	    When President Gnassingbé Eyadéma's son Faure Gnassingbé inherited Togo's presidency  Gabonese watched closely...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	      At 69  he is Africa's longest-serving ruler after President Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo and a decade ago  was wobbling under opposition pressure...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
            Vol 46 No 1 | 
            - WEST AFRICA
	     Talks have begun with the demoralised opposition  but there is no early prospect of change to President Gnassingbé Eyadéma's 38-year dictatorship...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	     France's Jacques Chirac sent congratulations - as did Africa's doyen  Togolese President Gnassingbé Eyadéma  whom Ben Ali still lags many years behind...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
            Vol 45 No 15 | 
            - CÔTE D'IVOIRE
	     But the Gabonese President-for-life is a more palatable mediator than Togo's President-for-life Gnassingbé Eyadéma  Africa's senior leader  who made the running in the early stages of the peace process...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	      Togo's President Gnassingbé Eyadéma will wish success to Michel Scarbonchi (United European Left)  who advocates resuming aid  and defeat to his main critic  German Christian Democrat Konrad Schwaiger...