The African Opposition by Benjamin Curtis

Photo Credit: Benjamin Curtis

Benjamin Curtis is the East Africa Chief Photographer, Photo Editor and acting Bureau Chief of the Associated Press (AP) news agency in Nairobi, Kenya. A staff photojournalist for the AP since 2003 and has previously been responsible for APs photo coverage from Middle East and before that West Africa.

The African Opposition

Spot News, first prize stories

22-04-2005

Opposition supporter. Faure Gnassingbe, the son of Africa's longest-reigning dictator Gnassingbe Eyadema, was elected president in April. According to the United Nations, up to 500 people were killed and 40,000 Togolese fled to neighboring countries in violence surrounding the elections. The military had installed Gnassingbe as president after his father's death in February, in a move described by the opposition and some other African leaders as a military coup. Under strong international pressure, Gnassingbe stepped down and called an election. Opposition members alleged the polls were rigged and organized protests. Within minutes of Gnassingbe being declared winner they rampaged through the streets of the capital Lome, burning barricades and clashing with security forces.

Commissioned by: The Associated Press