Late on Monday, Togo’s president signed into effect a new constitution, abolishing presidential elections in a move that critics argue will prolong his family’s decades-long rule. The decision has prompted civil society groups in the West African nation to call for demonstrations.
Under the new constitution, the president will be chosen by Parliament. This development follows closely on the heels of the announcement by the election commission on Saturday, declaring President Faure Gnassingbe’s ruling party as the winner of a majority of parliamentary seats.
Ahead of the vote, there was a notable crackdown on civic and media freedoms. The government enforced a ban on protests opposing the proposed constitution and detained opposition members.
Additionally, the electoral commission restricted the Catholic Church from deploying election monitors, while Togo’s media regulatory body halted the accreditation process for foreign journalists.
The revised constitution also extends presidential terms from five to six years and introduces a single-term limit. However, it exempts Gnassingbe’s nearly two decades in office, leading political opposition, religious leaders, and civil society to express concerns about Gnassingbe potentially retaining power beyond his current mandate, which ends in 2025.
Togo has been under the rule of the same family for 57 years, initially led by Eyadema Gnassingbe and later succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbe. Faure Gnassingbe assumed office following elections that were heavily criticized by the opposition.
Moreover, the new constitution introduces a role akin to that of a prime minister, to be appointed by the ruling party. Critics fear this could further entrench Gnassingbe’s control over the government.
In response to these developments, a coalition of approximately 20 civil society organizations in Togo has urged protests to demand a reinstatement of the previous constitution.
“We will never accept this new constitution, even after its promulgation,” David Dosseh, a spokesperson for the civil society groups, told The Associated Press, calling the 2025 election “absolutely necessary for the people to choose a new president and finally achieve a democratic transition in Togo.”
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