Togo: The Ewe ethnic group and its treatment by the Eyadema government and/or by members of the Kabiye ethnic group
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 22 March 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TGO38681.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Togo: The Ewe ethnic group and its treatment by the Eyadema government and/or by members of the Kabiye ethnic group, 22 March 2002, TGO38681.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4beb18.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Kabiye [spelt "Kabile" or "Kabye" in other sources] and Ewe are Togo's major ethnic groups (New African Year Book 1999/2000, 476; Country Reports 2001-2002; The African American 2000). Comprising over 20 per cent of Togo's population, the Ewe are the largest ethnic group in the south, whereas President Eyadema's Kabye group, which forms over 10 per cent of the population, is the largest ethnic group in the north (Country Reports 2001, 2002). The Ewe and the Ewe/Mina and Kabiye languages are the only two used in the educational system (The African American 2000).
Country Reports 2001 states that although there are no legal restrictions on the participation of ethnic minorities in government and politics, " members of the southern ethnic groups were underrepresented; however, no ethnic group, including the President's, was overrepresented conspicuously in the Cabinet" (2002). Additional information on inter-ethnic discrimination between members of the Kabiye and Ewe ethnic groups is contained in Country 2001 available on the US State Department of State Website.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The African American. 2000. " International Missions - Active Countries- Togo."
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.
New African Year Book. 1999/2000. 12th edition. London: IC Publications.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential
Africa Research Bulletin
Afrique/Asie
L'Autre Afrique
Jeune Afrique
Lettre de la FIDH
LEXIS/NEXIS
Oral sources
Resource Centre. Togo. Country File
West Africa
Internet sites including:All Africa
Search engines including:Mamma
Metacrawler
