• ‘Good Muslim, bad Muslim’ in Togo: religious minority identity construction amid a sociopolitical crisis (2017–2018)

    Author(s):
    Frédérick Madore (see profile)
    Date:
    2021
    Subject(s):
    Islam, Twenty-first century, Islam--Study and teaching, West Africa
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Togo, Political Islam, Contemporary Islam, Islamic studies
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/ywbz-tj71
    Abstract:
    In Togo, the opposition movement behind the anti-government protests that broke out in 2017–2018 appears to reflect a greater role for Islam in politics. Tikpi Atchadam, leader of the Parti National Panafricain, was the preeminent figure in the movement, having built a solid grassroots base among his fellow Muslims. This article examines the unique role that Muslim leaders played in these protests, as well as the Faure Gnassingbé regime's strategic response. The ruling party made spurious claims against Muslim opponents, associating them with a dangerous wave of political Islam. I argue that by portraying Atchadam as the leader of a radical ethnic and religious movement with Islamist goals, Faure Gnassingbé and his supporters sought to weaken this emerging challenger and deter members of the public from backing calls for political change. The strategy also helped garner support from Western countries while simultaneously driving a wedge between Muslim community leaders.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    10.1017/S0022278X21000094
    Publisher:
    Cambridge University Press
    Pub. Date:
    2021
    Journal:
    The Journal of Modern African Studies
    Volume:
    59
    Issue:
    2
    Page Range:
    197 - 217
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    2 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
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