Togo erupts in protest over Gnassingbé’s power grab

Anti-government protests have engulfed the streets of Togo over the government’s new plan to let Faure Gnassingbé remain in power indefinitely, according to a report by Africa News via BBC on July 26th.

Faure Gnassingbé, who has been the leader of Togo for 20 years, has been in power since 2005, marking 2025 as his 20th year in power since his father’s death. He now plans to remain in power due to a government decision allowing him to stay in power indefinitely. 5 protestors were recorded to be dead recently during the confrontations with security officials in the capital of Togo, Lomé.

Furthermore, on July 1st, several reports from Togo’s civic groups stated that police officials were caught firing tear gas in Lomé’s neighbourhoods and beating the protestors with Batons, backed by footage from the scenes. These actions showcase the brutality of Togo’s officials, as the citizens oppose such actions.

The constitutional framework that was introduced in early 2024 without the public having an opinion indicates that all the executive authority of Togo was transferred to their new Prime Minister, Gnassingbé, who had been elected since May 2025.

Faure Gnassingbé, previously the president of Togo now the Prime Minister of Togo due to a decision made by the government. The current role of President in Togo is nothing but ceremonial. However, the current President of Togo is the 86-year-old Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, who was selected by the legislature.

Several critics state that the changes in roles allow Gnassingbé to remain in power without facing future elections or opposition in Togo. The Union pour la République (UNIR), which is the party that dominates Togo due to the electoral boundaries that favour its Northern support base.

Recently, on July 17th, Togo held elections where roughly 3 million voters elected several people, excluding Faure Gnassingbé from the ballot, indicating his unpopularity among his citizens.

Africa News via BBC, Maghrebi.org.