UN says 22,600 refugees have fled Togo

The number of people who have fled crisis-hit Togo rose to 22,600 today, but the flow of refugees from the tiny West African nation has slowed sharply in recent days, the UN refugee agency said.

The agency said about 10,000 have fled to Ghana and 12,000 to Benin since April 26, when riots and street battles broke out after the electoral commission declared ruling party candidate Faure Gnassingbe – son of the country’s late dictator – winner of presidential elections two days earlier.

The opposition and militant supporters claimed the poll was rigged.

More than 500 fled on Thursday, but refugee agency spokesman Ron Redmond said the number of fleeing refugees had “slowed sharply” in the last two days.

The newest refugees included 355 who crossed into Benin at Hilakondji, and 218 others who fled to Ghana’s border town of Aflao.

Despite that, “the number of Togolese fleeing to Benin and Ghana because of general insecurity in their homeland has slowed sharply over the last two days,” Redmond said.

The majority of those who fled are staying in private houses, mostly with relatives or friends.

Thousands of others are living in makeshift camps.

The violence in Togo lasted several days and left nearly two dozen people dead. The country has been relatively calm since then.

Togo was thrown into crisis after the February 5 death of Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had ruled with an iron fist for nearly four decades.

The military swiftly installed the younger Gnassingbe as Eyadema’s successor, but he stepped down under heavy international pressure and agreed to stand in elections.

Gnassingbe was sworn into office on Wednesday.