the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lomé, Monsignor Yves-Nicodeme Barrigah, died on Sunday, August 4, at the age of 61.
His death was confirmed by the Conference of Bishops. Monsignor Barrigah chaired the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission from 2008 to 2012. The commission was established in response to the events following the death of General Eyadema Gnassingbé in 2005, which resulted in over 500 deaths, according to the United Nations.
Monsignor Barrigah was ordained as a priest in 1987 and served as a parish vicar at Lomé Cathedral. He then pursued studies at the Catholic Institute of Abidjan and in Rome, where he studied canon law and diplomacy.
On March 8, 2008, he became the fourth bishop of Atakpame, a position he held until 2019. He then assumed the role of metropolitan archbishop of Lomé on January 11, 2020.
Monsignor Yves-Nicodeme Barrigah was known not only for his religious leadership but also for his contributions as an artist, writer, and diplomat.
The Artist, writer, and diplomat was instrumental in leading the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission, which aimed to investigate the political violence in Togo between 1958 and 2005.
