Togo: elections begin amid violent anti-government protests

On July 17th, Togo is holding local elections which are expected to generate further protests and demonstrations against the government, according to Africa News.

Around three million voters are electing leaders in all 117 municipalities of the nation, and although President Faure Gnassingbe is not on the ballot, anti-government protests being called for on July 16th and 17th show the extent of his unpopularity.

On July 1st violent protests during June were reported, and footage released online of authorities abusing their power by beating protesters with batons and firing tear gas in residential areas.

Other government responses to the protest included restricting internet access and social media platforms across Togo.

Protests were banned in Togo in 2022, but they have persisted due to strong aversions to constitutional reform made by President Gnassingbe on May 3rd.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005, his father having ruled Togo for 38 years before him after seizing power in a coup. On May 3rd he was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers, a role he created which in effect has no term limit.

This constitutional reform turned Togo from a Presidential system to a Parliamentary one, and the National Assembly gave a statement explaining that they gave him the job as President of the Council of Minister because he is the leader of the majority party, according to Africa News.

The opposition parties immediately labelled the change a “constitutional coup.”

The response from activist groups was to stage protests in the capital city of Lomé, at which 80 protesters were arrested.

The protesters over Gnassingbe’s new role and surrounding the local elections call for him to step down as President and release those arrested at demonstrations, and the results of the elections will likely reflect the widespread feelings towards Togo’s majority party.

AfricaNews/Maghrebi