TOGO’S President Faure Gnassingbé is facing mounting criticism after security forces arrested dozens of protesters who rallied against recent constitutional changes that could allow him to remain in power indefinitely.
The arrests, which occurred during protests last week in Lomé and online, have drawn condemnation from activists and rights groups. The demonstrations were sparked by Gnassingbé’s controversial swearing-in in May as President of the Council of Ministers — a powerful new role without term limits that enables him to be re-elected by parliament as many times as it chooses.
The opposition has denounced the move as a ‘constitutional coup’, warning that the changes entrench authoritarianism and erode prospects for democratic renewal in the West African nation.
According to a local rights group, about 40 of the 80 people detained during the protests were released late on Monday, but at least 25 remain in custody.
Allegations of mistreatment emerge
Aimé Adi, director of Amnesty International’s Togo office, told The Associated Press that several detainees were allegedly beaten during their arrest. Amnesty and other rights groups have called for the immediate release of the remaining prisoners and an independent investigation into the conduct of security forces.
‘What the Togolese now want is the end of this regime which can no longer offer anything to the people after 20 years of absolute and repressive power of Faure Gnassingbé,’ said a statement from the “Hands Off My Constitution” coalition, made up of opposition politicians and civil society groups.
Rare protests in a tightly controlled state
Public demonstrations have been outlawed in Togo since 2022, following a deadly attack at Lomé’s main market. The recent wave of protests has broken that enforced silence, underscoring growing frustration among citizens who feel sidelined by the president’s sweeping constitutional overhaul.
Gnassingbé has ruled Togo since 2005 following the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who held power for 38 years. The family’s extended grip on power has made Togo one of the most enduring dynastic regimes in Africa.
The constitutional revision earlier this year transitioned the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system — on paper. However, critics say the move consolidates the president’s control rather than diminishing it.
Authorities defend crackdown
Togo’s public prosecutor Talaka Mawama defended the recent arrests, stating that the protests were ‘part of a revolt against the institutions of the Republic’. He argued that law enforcement acted within legal boundaries to preserve national order.
Still, many regional observers warn the move deepens fears of democratic backsliding in West Africa, a region already rattled by military coups and prolonged political transitions.
The growing tension in Togo is being closely watched by the international community, amid calls for constitutional reforms that respect democratic norms and human rights.
