Togolese rapper Aamron, known for his fierce criticism of President Faure Gnassingbe, was re-arrested at his home on Friday morning, his lawyer confirmed. The musician, born Narcisse Essowe Tchalla, is accused of “gross disturbance of public order, calling for a popular uprising and inciting the army to revolt.” His arrest has deepened political tensions in the capital, Lome.
This is not Aamron’s first clash with the government. Back in May, he was detained and sent to a psychiatric hospital, only to be released in June after publicly apologizing to the president. That episode triggered outrage nationwide and became a rallying point for protests against Gnassingbe’s rule.
Protests and Power Struggles
The demonstrations, which intensified in June, have been driven by anger over rising electricity prices, a crackdown on free speech, and controversial constitutional reforms seen as tightening Gnassingbe’s grip on power. The president, who has ruled since 2005 after succeeding his father’s 38-year reign, is now under fire from both activists and citizens demanding change.
Rights groups say at least seven people have been killed during the unrest, though the government denies these deaths were linked to the protests. On August 30, police blocked Aamron’s attempt to stage a protest in his neighborhood—an example of the increasingly heavy-handed response to dissent.
Arrests Beyond the Rapper
Aamron’s detention comes just days after the arrest of Marguerite Gnakade, the president’s sister-in-law and former defence minister. Once a political insider, she has now emerged as a vocal critic of the regime. Her arrest followed the release of opinion pieces and a viral video demanding Gnassingbe’s resignation. She too had joined a short-lived protest on August 30 before police stepped in.
Civil rights groups have also been targeted. Tournons la Page-Togo reported that two of its members were detained in late August, raising alarm about a wider crackdown on opposition voices.
A Nation on Edge
With opposition figures, activists, and even former insiders now facing arrest, pressure on President Gnassingbe is mounting. The wave of unrest reflects deep frustrations over reforms that many see as another attempt to cement his family’s long grip on power.
For many Togolese citizens, Aamron’s arrest is more than a legal matter—it has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression and political change in the country.
