- 12 sport journalists, including 7 Senegalese, Ivorians 3 and 2 Togolais involved since monday in a training initiated by the AFP Foundation in collaboration with the Fifa training program "Win in Africa with Africa" at the Institute Diambars Saly Senegal. This initiative brings together more than 300 reporters and photographers, and is part of the development of the selection of South Africa as host of the 2010 World Cup. These media professionals are the first promotion of an ambitious training program launched by FIFA as part of its "Win in Africa for Africa". This training, co-financed by the European Union, is entrusted to the AFP (France Press Agency) F…

Togo goes to the polls between 18 February and 5 March 2010 to elect a new president, a Constitutional Court stated. "The dates have been advanced imaginary. The postponement of the election was even considered," it said. AfricaNews reporter said this puts to rest rumours by the local private press. - The Court said that the presidential election takes place "75 days earlier and 60 days before the end of presidential term." It stated that "the date of the presidential election is set by Articles 61 and 64 of the Constitution of 14 October 1992 and article 98 of the Electoral Code." "With the current president of the republic that began on 4 May 2005 (da…

A Togolese by birth but now a Swedish from Örebro in central Sweden is in prison in Togo for an allege coup plot. Seidou Issifou, 67, was a high-ranking officer in Togo's army but fell into the bad books of the authorities before fleeing to Sweden with this family in the early 90s. - Rissa Seidou, his daughter, 35-year-old, told the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper that her father was arrested during a recent visit to Togo. Issifou is being held together with a group of officers, charged for having planned to seize power in Togo. 10 civilians and 18 soldiers were arrested over a coup d’état attempt involving Kpatcha Gnassingbe, the brother of the president and deputy. On Ap…

- Jean-Claude Akouété Abalo, AfricaNews reporter in Lomé The port will be required to scrub the airport and the various borders of Togo the coming days to prevent the outbreak of swine flu crisis now, said the health minister, Komlan Mally. "Given the scale that takes the pandemic, the wearing of masks will be mandatory in the coming days, especially by the staff on duty at points of entry into our country. The checks will be strengthened at the airport, harbor and at land border, "said the Minister Mally. For now, no cases of swine flu was reported in Togo, but the authorities want to provide. This idea refers to an expatriate of 25 years who resided in Mexico dur…

Ten civilians have been charged, tried and placed in custody, while 18 soldiers are under "disciplinary action" in a case of attempted coup d'état involving Kpatcha Gnassingbe, the brother of the president, according to a statement from prosecutor, Robert Bakai. So far no names disclosed. - “However, five of 18 military officers, ten non-commissioned officers and three men and one officer ranks are consigned under their disciplinary body before handing the respective judicial decisions," the statement said. Bakai said: "The ongoing investigations have resulted in the arrest of several people, both military and civilian. The main people charged have made det…

- Jean-Claude Akouété Abalo, AfricaNews reporter in Lomé, Togo The designer Nadia Karimu presented this week-end at the Hotel Mercure Sarakawa in Lomé, a fashion where it had 104 models from his collection. "The nadiakales lines for children, women and men. The models are divided into 5 tables: "Nadiaka for Kids", "Hakui Design", "Nadiakales Babydolls," "Evening Nadiakales" and "Married Nadiakales. It is a style based on a combination of Western fashion and traditional African, an alloy between flax fabric and the African-design, Ghana kente tissues and Vlisco. It's an art of living imposed by this frail girl only 32 years. He was…

The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) in Togo lifted the ban on interactive programs on radio and television. The HAAC decided on 17 April, to place the ban in order to avoid "slippage" due to recent events relating to the attempt on State Security. - "Today, much sensitivity has already made (...) that means there is a significant advance in the course of these events. It is primarily for this reason that the HAAC has lifted this measure," explained Evegno, the head of HACC after meeting officials from the press at the headquarters. Evegno, HAAC said it received no pressure to lift the ban: "the HAAC is a constitutionally independent instit…