A half-brother of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé who has been in detention since 2009 on suspicion of conspiring to overthrow the government has been evacuated to Gabon, according to one of his advisers, for "sanitary reasons."

Kpatcha Gnassingbé, 52, a former minister of defense from 2005 to 2007, was deemed the brains behind a botched putsch and was condemned in September 2011 to 20 years in prison for "conspiring against state security." On April 15, 2009, he was detained in front of the American embassy where he was seeking safety.

"I can confirm that Kpatcha Gnassingbé has been evacuated to Gabon for health reasons since March 23. I am in contact with his relatives. He is currently in a hospital where he is being treated," said Me Zeus Ajavon .

"We have asked for his evacuation several times, because of his state of health which has deteriorated. In any case, we appreciate this gesture, which can be a sign of relaxation within the Gnassingbé family", he said . he adds.

No official Togolese or Gabonese source has yet confirmed the information.

Kpatcha Gnassingbé had been hospitalized in the military pavilion of the Sylvanus-Olympio University Hospital Center (CHU) in Lomé since June 17, 2021.

According to Me Ajavon, his client, who suffers in particular from diabetes , "is still considered a prisoner, because he has not benefited from parole or a presidential pardon" .

A total of 33 soldiers and civilians involved in this foiled putsch of 2009 were tried by the judicial chamber of the Supreme Court and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 months to 20 years. All had pleaded their innocence.

Kpatcha Gnassingbé and two officers are still being held in this case, the others having been released.

“We would like the two officers who are still in detention in this case to also benefit from a medical evacuation, because they are also sick” , pleaded Me Ajavon.

Togo has been ruled since 2005 by Faure Gnassingbé , who came to power after the death of his father, General Gnassingbé Eyadéma , who himself had ruled Togo for 38 years. He was re-elected in polls that were all contested by the opposition.