Following the arrest of scores of demonstrators who gathered against recent constitutional amendments that would have given him the ability to hold onto office indefinitely, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo is coming under increasing fire. Rights groups and campaigners have condemned the arrests, which took place during protests online and in Lomé last week. The disputed swearing-in of Gnassingbé as President of the Council of Ministers in May, a powerful new position with no term limits that allows parliament to re-elect him as many as it wants, served as the impetus for the protests. The opposition has criticised the action as a “constitutional coup,” cautioning that the modifications strengthen authoritarianism and undermine the country’s chances for democratic reform in West Africa.
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
In defence of the recent arrests, Togo’s public prosecutor Talaka Mawama claimed that the demonstrations were “part of a revolt against the institutions of the Republic.” He maintained that in order to maintain national order, law enforcement operated within the bounds of the law. However, a number of regional analysts caution that the action heightens concerns about a return to democracy in West Africa, a region already shook by protracted political upheavals and military takeovers. The international community is keeping a close eye on Togo’s escalating conflict as proposals for constitutional changes that uphold democratic values and human rights are made.
