VZCZCXRO1188
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHPC #0097 0541645
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231645Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9418
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LOME 000097 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/W - ASHLEY STEWART, AF/PDPA - MOLLY SANCHEZ CROWE 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV TO
SUBJECT:  TOGO: THE FRAC IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE FRAC 
 
REF: LOME 084 
 
¶1.  As noted in Reftel, the Republican Front for Change, the 
alliance formed during a February 9 - 10 meeting of the opposition 
candidates in Paris between the Union of Forces for Change (UFC), 
the Organization of a United Togo (OBUTS), and SURSAUT-Togo, 
disintegrated in less than a week.  However, on February 17, with 
great fanfare, a new alliance was announced under the slightly 
different name of Front Republicain pour l'Alternance et le 
Changement (FRAC).  The FRAC is an alliance between the UFC, 
SURSAUT-Togo, and three small parties which do not have candidates 
in the race.  Its primary purpose is to support the UFC candidate, 
Jean Pierre Fabre.  None of the larger opposition parties have 
joined the FRAC; the five other opposition candidates are fully 
engaged in their own campaigns.  Patrick Lawson, first 
Vice-President of the UFC, has been named Fabre's campaign manager 
and Kofi Yamgnane (SURSAUT-Togo) serves as FRAC's spokesman. 
Following the announcement of the FRAC, Fabre's campaign kicked off 
on Friday, February 19, despite the lack of endorsement from UFC 
president and original candidate, Gilchrist Olympio. 
 
¶2.  By forming this alliance, Fabre seeks to portray himself as the 
unique candidate for the opposition.  Although, the UFC is still 
firmly convinced that its candidate will prevail in any election 
that is free and fair, FRAC provides a broader support base as the 
member parties have followers in regions where the UFC is weak.  In 
addition, given Gilchrist Olympio's initial lack of endorsement for 
Fabre's candidacy and some members of UFC refusing to support Fabre 
without Olympio's explicit approval, FRAC provided another banner 
that Fabre could wave.  FRAC's declared objective is to work 
together, campaign together, organize together, and govern together. 
 According to its founders, FRAC welcomes people of all walks of 
life to "take a part in the liberation of Togo" and fight against 
corruption, violence, and impunity.  They message of working 
together is not unique to the FRAC, it is being used in several 
campaigns, most notably the Faure campaign. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Gilchrist Olympio Endorses Fabre's Candidacy 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  After weeks of silence, on Sunday, February 21, Gilchrist 
Olympio issued a statement endorsing Jean Pierre Fabre as UFC's 
presidential candidate.  Declaring that a UFC victory would signify 
a victory of all the democratic forces of Togo, Olympio called on 
members of the UFC to support Fabre.  Olympio noted that Fabre is 
committed to the same goals as the UFC: the promotion of public 
health measures, improvement in the infrastructure and security of 
the country, and a reduction of poverty for the Togolese people.  As 
the president of the UFC and historical leader of the opposition, 
Olympio's endorsement was crucial to Fabre's legitimacy as the 
candidate of the UFC, by far the largest opposition party.  Whether 
all members of the UFC will fall solidly in-line behind Fabre 
remains to be seen; the past few weeks have revealed major fissures 
in the UFC with some members publicly expressing their opposition to 
Fabre. In addition, the future of the FRAC is in question; if Fabre 
no longer sees the need for the alliance now that he has Olympio's 
endorsement, the new FRAC may have as short a life span as the 
first. 
HAWKINS