Tensions in the diplomatic relations between Togo and France has been growing for days over Togo's presidential elections set for February.
Eric Bosc, the first secretary in the French Embassy in Lome, who is in charge of political matters, was asked to leave the country because of inappropriate contact with the opposition.
The measure was taken without prior warning on Dec. 4 through a letter that was signed by Foreign Minister Kofi Esaw and addressed to French Ambassador Dominique Renaux.
In reaction, France equally asked for the departure of a diplomat from the Togolese Embassy in Paris under the principle of "reciprocity."
A number of political observers think that the Togolese authorities did not like the idea of Bosc repeatedly meeting with one of the candidates in the fourth-coming election, Kofi Yamgnane, 64, who is of Franco-Togolese
nationality. He started staying in Togo a year ago. Since September, he has been doing his campaigns by moving from village to village.
On its part, France defended its diplomat reiterating that Bosc "did not overstep his mandate." On the contrary, he showed "great professionalism in his contacts with all legal parties," declared Bernard Valero, the
spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry.
Togo's presidential vote is expected to take place on Feb. 28. President Faure Gnassingbe is supposed to be a candidate in the race for his
second term. He took over power in 2005 after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had been the head of state since 1967.
According to observers, the attitude of the Togolese authorities is based on the activities of the former colonial power that is being suspected of giving unconditional support to Yamgnane in the electoral campaigns.
France is one of the principle commercial partners of Togo. The French exports which grew to 194 million euros (291 million U. S. dollars) in 2007 comprise mainly refined petroleum products, pharmaceutical products, as well
as electrical and information equipment.
About 20 branches of French companies or enterprises with French interests are stationed in Togo, especially in the banking, hotel,
transport, fuel, BTP, communication and food production sectors.
On Sept. 1, 2008, during the visit by the secretary of state in charge of cooperation and the Francophonie, Alain Joyandet, a document for
France-Togo partnership (2008-2012) was signed.
France had tensions with several other countries in Africa such as Rwanda and Gabon.
France and Rwanda agreed to restore diplomatic relations after a three-year break less than two weeks ago.
The two countries had seen their ties soured over the 1994 Rwanda massacre. Rwandan President Paul Kagame said France had taken side with the
Hutus, while a French judge accused Kagame of having been behind the killing of the former president to unleash the genocide.
The Gabonese government in March slammed the French media-led prejudice over the ruling by a Bordeaux court against the then President Omar Bongo Ondimba, warning of damage to the traditional ties between the two countries.
A court of appeal in the French southwest city of Bordeaux froze 4.2 million euro (5.29 million U.S. dollars) in two French bank accounts of the late Gabonese president on Feb. 26, 12 years after a legal case involving a French businessman.