Togolese bishops in a working session/Conference of Bishops of Togo
News facts
In a press release dated July 19, the Conference of Bishops of Togo (CET) expresses its compassion for the populations affected by deadly terrorist attacks in the Savanes region, in the north of the country, and launches a mobilization of funds to support the displaced. .
Togo has been facing deadly terrorist attacks in the Savannah region in the north of the country for several months. According to a press release from the Togolese security forces, on the night of July 14 to 15, “coordinated and complex attacks” were carried out in several prefectures of Kpendjal and Kpendjal-Ouest, causing “several deaths”.
Faced with this situation, the Conference of Bishops of Togo published a press release on July 19 in which it expresses its compassion for the families of the victims of these attacks and launches a mobilization of funds to come to the aid of the displaced persons fleeing these killings. ” This alarming situation plunges the populations into disarray and forces them to flee their localities, towards other horizons”underlines the Togolese episcopate which says to itself deeply concerned by these tragic events “.
Exercises of piety and financial mobilization
The Togolese bishops have also asked the faithful to perform certain exercises of piety so that peace returns to this part of the country. This will be, for the parishes, ” to say the prayer for peace in Togo at each Eucharistic celebration to implore divine protection on Togo and more particularly on the savannah region. It is also recommended that Catholics ” Pray the Rosary on Fridays at the Hour of Mercy (3:00 p.m.) ” and of ” to make the Stations of the Cross for this intention “.
To read : Togo: Togolese religious leaders encourage the fight against violent extremism
In addition, the Conference of Bishops of Togo has launched an operation to mobilize financial means and food, in order to support the displaced persons, through the diocese of Dapaong. As part of this mobilization, each diocese will be responsible for organizing collections.
Vigilance in places of worship, State of emergency
Finally, the Togolese episcopate asks priests and faithful to be more vigilant in places of worship. To do this, he advocates raising awareness of the ” behaviors to adopt in the event of a crisis “.
While the exact number of victims of these attacks is not known, they are attributed to terrorists. Indeed, the north of Togo has experienced two terrorist attacks in the past two months, prompting the government to establish, since June 13, a state of security emergency in the Savannah region. Faced with the disarray of the populations, the Head of State Faure Gnassingbé visited the region several times in a few days.
“You must remain vigilant, stay together regardless of differences to fight the common enemyhe asked people during one of these trips. From today, the provisions must change, from now on it is the Togolese army which will be on the offensive”. The army, for its part, encouraged the populations to “ don’t give in to panic “.