"The year 2020 has been marked by major internal changes at Turn the Page and upheaval internationally. The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on our activities by limiting opportunities for action, citizen mobilization and advocacy but also fundraising capacity, while allowing many leaders to further restrict fundamental freedoms, under the pretext of a health emergency."

2020, an election year in West Africa

The year marked both the ability of our coalitions to influence the social political game and the trend of a democratic backlash in the region.

In Guinea, TLP members were the driving force behind the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, which led millions of people into the streets to oppose Alpha Conde's third term in office. This remarkable mobilization, in spite of the president's forced passage, is a source of inspiration for other coalitions because of its peaceful nature, its capacity for innovation and the quality of its territorial organization. Members of TLP-Guinea have suffered relentless repression, which we documented in a report published in October 2020.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the TLP coalition was a central actor in the elections, bringing to life a citizen's alternative, while the public debate is being sucked up by powerful political formations. First by advocating for reform of the Electoral Commission, then by innovative citizen sensitization prior to the vote, TLP provided a critical voice while advocating for peace and non-violence.

In Togo, President Faure Gnassingbé, who succeeded his father's 38-year rule in 2005, began a fourth term as president in May. The election was marked by a crackdown on dissenting voices, including political opponents in exile or under house arrest.

In Niger, the end of 2020 was marked by the organization of presidential and legislative elections in a tense climate. Allowing a transfer of power through the ballot box two, these elections were caught between people, a restriction of civic space and the arrest of opponents. TLP-Niger members created an election observatory where 600 observers were mobilized and two reports published.

Member Protection

Thanks to funding from our partner Voice, TLP in partnership with Agir ensemble pour les droits humains, was able to

Set up a network of 92 lawyers and 10 protection referents:
46 of the 55 arrested members were able to receive material, medical or judicial assistance to enable them to overcome these obstacles and continue their activism;
Advocacy with the United Nations;
Training our members in digital security.

Strategic litigation.

In Guinea, TLP filed a complaint with the ICC for acts that could be qualified as crimes against humanity. We also filed a simple complaint against X in the so-called "AMR Guinea" case, a scandal of corruption and potential tax evasion that implicates prominent people in the French and Guinean economic and political landscape.

In Niger, TLP has been active in three cases through its lawyers: the Ministry of Defense corruption case, the Uranium Gate case before the national courts, and a dispute over the right to demonstrate before the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

In the DRC , a land dispute has pitted the family of former President Joseph Kabila against the 3,000 people who lived on the Mbobero land before the family took it over since 2016. A complaint was then filed against the former head of state in June 2020. An activist was shot at close range while attempting to defend a woman who was being assaulted by a military officer. A new complaint was filed against the soldier, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Congolese state was also ordered to pay $50,000 in damages to the civil parties.

Citizen mobilization

In all the coalitions, associations worked to mobilize citizens and build a culture of democracy and commitment. 3 examples:

In the DRC, mobilizations were organized to demand more social justice and end impunity. Three demonstrations in Bukavu, between August and October, brought together thousands of demonstrators (nearly 15,000) from all segments of the population.

TLP- Togo has, with other structures, initiated the campaign "Citizen Solidarity Action: Let's not forget the victims" whose objective is to raise more interest with the authorities on the issue of reparations for the harm suffered by victims of torture while respecting the principle of separation of powers.

TLP-Guinea organized educational causes and sensitizations on the rights and duties of citizens. As a result, 50 activities were carried out, including door-to-door sensitization sessions, community assemblies, educational causes and citizen debates on the duty and responsibility of citizens in the consolidation of democracy. These outreach activities were conducted over a two-month period and reached approximately 3,500 families in all neighborhoods of the capital.

Documenting human rights violations

Four reports were released in 2020:

Guinea: a third term for Alpha Conde at what cost?
Niger: When counterterrorism justifies the restriction of civic space
Congo: Report on electoral governance
Niger: December 27, 2020 double ballot: massive and multifaceted manipulation of the vote
Study on the state of democracy in Burundi

Advocacy and Communication

Tournons La Page is a movement with a strong capacity to influence through its internal and external communication. The year 2020 was marked by the creation of online campaign tools by the international coordination and the coalitions: visuals, petitions, newsletters, videos...

Four coalitions have "TLP" WebTVs capable of following and widely disseminating civil society actions (Gabon, DRC, Ivory Coast, Niger)
TLP has functional and secure national and international websites to promote its activities
TLP members and supporters are informed of political news through bulletins and newsletters at the national and international levels (Cameroon, DRC, Niger and international)
TLP conducts extensive digital campaigns through the accurate use of social networks