Togo has become a place of fright as the populace has gone to the polls and voted. It is literally a situation that you cannot believe is real, and that if you blink, it will all go away. But it won’t go away. After living 38 God-forsaken years under a despotic military state, the people of Togo are sick of their government and wish to erase the memories of widespread imprisonment, famine, and poverty. What we are seeing in Togo is what could have happened in Zimbabwe if they had taken to the streets. The outcome now is very uncertain, but one thing is for sure: doing nothing will not get them anywhere.

Earlier today, the people of Togo both voted and alleged fraud against the government.

LOME, Togo (Reuters) – Togo voted for a new president on Sunday in a poll meant to resolve a political crisis after the death of Africa’s longest serving leader but that has instead stoked fears of violence.

After a calm, rain-sodden morning in the West African country’s capital Lome, tempers flared in some opposition neighborhoods as rumors of ballot-box stuffing spread in the sweltering afternoon heat. In the suburb of Aguia Kome, smoke billowed from a burned car that opposition youths said had been carrying doctored boxes. They said the driver had got away and the excited crowds quickly dispersed when firemen doused the flames.
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Weeks of opposition protests demanding a delay and deadly battles between rival supporters armed with machetes have fueled fears of an explosion of violence, especially if Gnassingbe is declared the winner — as most analysts expect.

“Enough is enough. We want a change,” said unemployed Theodore Teva, 27, standing near the burning car in Lome. “If the RPT declares victory there’s going to be trouble.”

Togo acts as a port for several, poor landlocked neighbors in the region and African leaders eager to improve the continent’s image want a peaceful and democratic resolution to the crisis.

Polls opened at 0630 GMT and were due to close at 1700 GMT. Long queues snaked outside polling stations, particularly in the opposition stronghold of Be where the late arrival of electoral material delayed the start of voting in some centers. Turnout seemed high and Togo’s acting Interior Minister Katari Folly-Bazi told reporters that by 1 p.m. GMT, it stood at 52 percent. He said there were skirmishes between rival supporters in the northern town of Mango before the security forces intervened and restored order.
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The opposition says voter lists have been grossly inflated in some areas and that the distribution of electoral cards has been skewed to favor the ruling party. The United States has said the reports of irregularities were troubling.

In Be supporters said they had been unable to vote because their names were not on the lists. “This is a government of thieves,” yelled Tony, a barber, after he was turned back.

“A dinosaur has fallen and we don’t want another dinosaur,” said Christian Yenkey, 49, a surgeon.

Inevitably, they have taken to the streets.
Read this report from Friday.

Flashing ‘V’ signs, blowing whistles and sharpening their machetes on the pavement, the opposition supporters were defiant and confident.

“Me, I am going to support my candidate because I want change and we are ready to die for our freedom,” said one muscular man of about 30 brandishing a machete. He wore a yellow tee-shirt, a yellow bandana round his head and a yellow cloth wound round the wrist of his machete hand.

Other opposition supporters drove by on cars and mopeds waving green, yellow and red national flags.

Government supporters, who have clashed repeatedly with the opposition in street fighting in recent weeks, were nowhere to be seen.

Want to know how easy it is to commit simple fraud in this election? This easy.

On another side of Lome, opposition supporters chanted, “President,” when their candidate, Emmanuel Akitani-Bob, voted.

He said the electoral process is not free and fair, but that he is fighting to break what he called four decades of ferocious dictatorship and economic mismanagement.

After voting, an aide gave him some rubbing alcohol, and he quickly made disappear what was supposed to be indelible ink to prevent repeat voting. He said journalists should draw their own conclusions.

A third candidate, Harry Olympio, delayed voting because, at his voting center, scuffles broke out when materials failed to show up, to the dismay of one would-be voter, Kafarou.

“There is no material to vote,” he said. ” We want to vote, but there is no material. The situation will be bad.”

Elsewhere, newly registered voters said their names were not added to voter lists, and that they were being denied the right to vote. One of them warned there would be violent street protests, if the voting process is perceived as unfair.

“The people must go, the people must decide all in the road of Lome. This becomes their duty. In this way, I think that Togo must become a Rwanda,” he added.

Lots of people have already died over the last few weeks. I don’t think there is anything that can be done to prevent violence, but in the least we can hope that it will be over quickly. More as the situation develops, and as the voting results are announced.

UPDATE: Finally one of the “Top Stories” on Google News. The day ended with some clashes between security forces and the opposition.

LOME (Reuters) – Security forces and opposition supporters in Togo clashed on Sunday at the end of a tense day of voting for a new president and there were fears of more street violence when the winner is declared.
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As night fell in the capital, barricades of burning tires clogged a road leading to opposition strongholds, heavily-armed soldiers patrolled in pickups with mounted machineguns and both sides accused each other of fraud and intimidation.
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While there was no general explosion of violence, hospital workers and party officials said at least 20 people were hurt, including two ruling party militants with machete wounds and five people who were shot in the opposition stronghold of Be.

Residents said the security forces who had come to take away ballot boxes in Be fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators.

A doctor at a clinic in Be said he had received four injured, two with serious gunshot wounds. A nurse at a hospital in Be said 14 people were treated for injuries — supporters from both sides and election officials — including three who had been shot.

Just wait for the winner to be declared. If Faure “wins,” which is likely, the opposition is determined to go to the streets. If Bob-Akitani wins in some miracle, it is being predicted that the military may try to assume a coup. Not good. It all comes down to the announcement.

For previous coverage, click here.