Keypoints:
- Ex-defence chief urges army to abandon Gnassingbé
- Protests swell against ‘constitutional coup’ reforms
- Dynasty faces biggest legitimacy test in decades
PRESSURE on President Faure Gnassingbé intensified on Monday, when former defence minister Essozimna Marguerite Gnakade—also the president’s sister-in-law—appeared in a public video urging the military to side with the people and press for an end to the Gnassingbé family’s 58-year hold on power. Her bold appeal, delivered with remarkable candour, signals deepening internal divisions within the ruling elite and adds weight to the growing chorus demanding democratic change.
Constitutional coup concerns
Gnassingbé, who had led Togo as president from 2005 until May 2025, transitioned into the new role of President of the Council of Ministers after sweeping constitutional reforms. These changes effectively hollowed out the presidency and consolidated authority under a new system, one that removed term limits and granted Gnassingbé broad executive powers without restriction. Critics swiftly condemned the manoeuvre as a ‘constitutional coup’, warning that it entrenched dynastic control and erased hard-won democratic safeguards.
Mobilising public outrage
Discontent had already been bubbling since June 2025, when young people and civil society groups staged demonstrations against the reforms. Protesters accused the government of undermining democracy and called for Gnassingbé to step down.
Critics swiftly condemned the manoeuvre as a ‘constitutional coup’, warning that it entrenched dynastic control and erased hard-won democratic safeguards.
What’s at stake
The stakes could not be higher. At the heart of the crisis lies the question of democratic integrity and whether Togo’s armed forces will remain loyal to the constitutional order or shift their allegiance towards the citizenry demanding change. The Gnassingbé dynasty, which has held power since 1967, now faces an unprecedented test of legitimacy. With public anger swelling on the streets and influential voices from within the establishment breaking ranks, Togo may be approaching a decisive turning point—one that could redefine its political future and determine whether nearly six decades of dynastic rule finally come to an end.
