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| Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe |
Protesters in Togo have ratcheted up pressure on the government by demanding an immediate return to the country's previous constitution.
Hundreds of supporters gathered in the town of Vogan, located approximately 50 kilometers outside the capital of Lomé, to voice fierce opposition to the 2024 political transition.
The rally commenced with a traditional libation ceremony before opposition leaders and participants united to sing the national anthem. Attendees prominently displayed banners and placards condemning the structural amendments.
The disputed reforms transitioned Togo from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary framework. This shift transferred executive power away from the nationally elected presidency to the President of the Council of Ministers, an office assumed by longtime leader Faure Gnassingbé.
Civil society organizations have vehemently rejected the legislative changes, labeling them an illegal maneuver to prolong executive authority.
"The constitutional change that took place in Togo in 2024 is completely illegal; it is a constitutional coup d’état," said David Dosseh, spokesperson for the civil society organization Front Citoyen Togo Debout. "The Togolese people will never accept this outrage."
Gnassingbé has maintained power since 2005, succeeding his father who ruled for nearly four decades. Under the modified framework, the primary head of state role has been reduced to a largely ceremonial position restricted to a single six-year term. However, the newly empowered Council of Ministers post permits indefinite re-election by Parliament.
Opposition figures are heavily banking on recent legal developments to energize public pushback. Last month, the ECOWAS Court of Justice issued a ruling declaring that the constitutional overhaul contravenes foundational democratic principles, categorizing the measure as an unconstitutional shift in governance.
Although the regional court's decision is not legally binding, domestic political leaders believe it serves as a critical catalyst for civic awakening.
"It’s the awakening of our fellow citizens, because when you’re in a dictatorship, it’s only through the awakening of the population that things change," said Maitre Dodji Apevon, president of the Democratic Force for the Republic.