At least 7 people killed during recent anti-government protests in Togo
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At least seven people have been killed in Togo as protests erupt over sweeping constitutional reforms expanding President Gnassingbé’s power.
At Least 7 Killed in Togo Anti-Government Protests Over Constitutional Reform
Protesters denounce reforms that could extend President Gnassingbé’s rule indefinitely
At least seven people have been killed and several others injured during recent anti-government protests in Togo’s capital, Lomé, amid growing unrest over controversial constitutional reforms that could extend President Faure Gnassingbé’s grip on power.
The figures were released by civic groups on Sunday, following days of unrest that saw police firing tear gas, using batons on demonstrators, and restricting internet access across the West African country.
Protests and Police Crackdown
The protests, which began on June 26 and continued through the 28th, were sparked by a government crackdown earlier in the month and a highly contentious power shift within Togo’s political structure.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show security forces violently dispersing demonstrators, with some sustaining severe injuries. Local media reported that tear gas was fired in multiple neighborhoods of Lomé.
According to digital rights groups, access to social media platforms and the broader internet was heavily restricted, with connections described as “intermittent and unstable” during peak protest hours.
A Controversial Power Shift
The protests follow recent constitutional changes that critics say effectively amount to a “constitutional coup.”
President Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled Togo since 2005 after the death of his father, was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers in May — a powerful executive position without term limits. Under the new structure, the presidency has become largely ceremonial, with Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de Tove appointed as the new head of state.
This restructuring has infuriated opposition parties, who say it cements a dynastic hold on power and undermines Togo’s already fragile democracy.
Opposition and Regional Fears
The changes have sparked fears both locally and regionally, especially as West Africa faces a rise in coups, constitutional overhauls, and democratic backsliding.
“This is nothing short of a legal manipulation to keep one family in power indefinitely,” said a spokesperson for a Togolese opposition coalition.
Demonstrations in Togo have been rare in recent years due to a ban on public protests implemented in 2022, following a deadly incident at Lomé’s main market. However, civil society groups and prominent social media influencers defied the ban, calling for nationwide demonstrations last week.
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