The streets of Lome, Togo’s capital, turned into a battleground last week as at least seven people were reportedly killed and over 60 others arrested during three days of anti-government protests — some of the deadliest civil unrest the West African nation has seen in years.
The demonstrations, largely led by young Togolese citizens, erupted over controversial constitutional reforms and what many describe as an increasingly authoritarian grip on power by President Faure Gnassingbé. Protesters lit tyres, barricaded roads, and demanded the president’s resignation after he was appointed to a powerful new role under the revised constitution.
Bodies Found, Silence from Government
According to human rights monitors, including the Togolese Human Rights Observatory (ODDH), security forces and armed militias used excessive force against unarmed demonstrators. Two corpses were reportedly recovered from a lake in Akodessewa, while two others were pulled from a lagoon in Be — chilling evidence of what activists say was a campaign of terror masquerading as crowd control.
“The streets of Lome were once again the scene of brutal and systematic repression,” several human rights groups said in a damning joint statement. “This wasn’t about restoring order. It was about instilling fear.”
Despite mounting evidence, the Togolese government has remained silent on the deaths and arrests. Instead, it issued a warning on June 6 threatening legal action against anyone who spreads what it called “unfounded information” on social media.
Opposition, Amnesty Demand Justice
Major opposition groups, including the National Alliance for Change, have condemned the crackdown and renewed calls for President Gnassingbé’s resignation. They say the recent constitutional amendments — which shift executive power to the newly created position of President of the Council of Ministers — are a smokescreen to keep the long-time ruler in control indefinitely.
Amnesty International has also stepped in, demanding an immediate investigation into credible reports of torture of protesters detained during earlier demonstrations on June 5 and 6.
A Protest Beyond Politics
But this unrest is about more than constitutional tweaks or political power grabs. Many Togolese citizens are also crying out against grinding economic hardship, a lack of opportunity, and the silencing of dissent. Civil society groups, bloggers, and student activists have become the face of the movement, demanding not just political change, but dignity, justice, and a future worth fighting for.
As international attention turns toward Togo, pressure is mounting for the government to break its silence, investigate the killings, release the detained, and respect the rights of its citizens to speak out and assemble peacefully.
For the families of the dead and the countless others still searching for loved ones, the pain is raw. For the protesters still marching in defiance, the message remains clear: Enough is enough.
