Harry Olympio

Harry Octavianus Olympio is a Togolese politician and the National President of the Rally for the Support of Democracy and Development (RSDD).

First period in government, 2000 attack dispute

Olympio, the cousin of Union of Forces for Change (UFC) President Gilchrist Olympio, was appointed Minister for the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law in 1998; as a result of his acceptance of a position in the government, he was widely considered a traitor by the opposition.

He was also the head of the Joint Follow-up Committee, involved in preparations for a planned parliamentary election, near his office in Lomé.

2002 parliamentary election, second period in government

The RSDD participated in the October 2002 parliamentary election, despite the opposition boycott of the election; Olympio said that "the leaders of the traditional opposition have run out of new ideas, and they must bow out". Olympio was again appointed to the government as Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament on December 3, 2002. He was kept in that position in the government named on July 29, 2003, but he promptly resigned on August 4, saying that he had already made clear to Prime Minister Koffi Sama, prior to the announcement of the new government, that he was unwilling to remain in his previous position and would only serve in the government if he was given "the opportunity to work for peace and national reconciliation". It was suggested that he had wanted the post of Minister of Justice, with combined responsibility for national reconciliation.

2005 presidential election

Following the death of President Eyadéma in February 2005, Olympio announced in mid-March that he would be a candidate in the April 2005 presidential election. Although the main opposition coalition united behind the candidacy of Emmanuel Bob-Akitani of the UFC, Olympio said that "the struggle for change is represented by dynamic, youthful leadership", not, in reference to Bob-Akitani's age, "the image of an old man who is not capable of running a hectic race". Olympio received 0.55% of the national vote according to official final results, placing fourth and last.

2006 bomb attack In March 2006, Olympio was sought in connection with an alleged petrol bomb attack on police headquarters.