1991 conflict with the presidency

In the months following the appointment of Joseph Kokou Koffigoh as Prime Minister by the National Conference on 27 August 1991,^[1] the soldiers of the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) loyal to President Gnassingbé Eyadéma repeatedly tried to oust Koffigoh:

• On 1 October 1991, the soldiers seized the national radio and television station and demanded that Koffigoh resign^[1][2] before leaving the station; Koffigoh said afterwards on the radio that order was restored.^[2]
• On 8 October 1991, the soldiers unsuccessfully tried to kidnap Koffigoh, and four people were reported killed in protests and violence that followed.^[3]
• In late November 1991, the soldiers began a siege of Koffigoh's official residence in Lomé after Eyadéma's party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), was banned by the transitional High Council of the Republic (HCR).^[4] They demanded that Koffigoh's government be replaced and threatening to "reduce the city to ashes";^[5] they also demanded that the RPT be legalized again and that the HCR be dissolved.^[6] Koffigoh called for French military aid. Eyadéma publicly called on the soldiers to return to their barracks and expressed continued trust in Koffigoh, but also invited him to begin consultations on the formation of a new national unity government.^[5] After two days of talks, the soldiers lifted their siege;^[6] however, they promptly resumed it.^[7] Koffigoh then offered to include supporters of Eyadéma in the government, but he refused to dissolve his government altogether, and he again called for French aid.^[8] On 3 December 1991, the soldiers succeeded in capturing Koffigoh in a heavy assault on his official residence, involving tanks and machine guns. Many people were killed in this violence:^[9][10] at least 17,^[9] and possibly more than 200.^[10] The soldiers then took Koffigoh to meet with Eyadéma,^[9] who was widely believed to have been behind the soldiers' actions, although he did not take responsibility for them. Later on the same day, Eyadéma released a statement saying that he and Koffigoh would form a new transitional government. Although Koffigoh remained in office, his power was considered curtailed.^[10] On 31 December, a new government headed by Koffigoh was announced, including three members of the RPT; most members of the previous government remained in their posts.^[4]