France in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsion with Togo
France says it has asked a Togo diplomat to leave the country in tit-for-tat expulsions following the kicking out by Togo of a French diplomat. The French foreign ministry has stayed mum on why Togo booted out their first secretary in the capital, Lome, only saying he had never acted in an untoward manner. Reports say the Frenchman may have developed ties with one of the candidates standing in 2010 presidential elections, which the current government obviously doesn’t like. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Togo has had a succession of coups, culminating in a period of uneasy civilian rule from 2007, that favoured long and entrenched political interests. Read more: Reuters, US Department of State
