Keypoints:
- At least seven killed in protests in Lome
- Demonstrators oppose political reform and repression
- Rights groups accuse security forces of abuses
AT least seven people were killed and over 60 others arrested during three days of anti-government protests in Togo’s capital, Lome, last week. The demonstrations, which erupted over constitutional reforms and rising political repression, mark one of the deadliest episodes of civil unrest in the country in recent years, rights groups said on Sunday.
Footage shared on social media showed protesters blocking streets and burning tyres as they called for the resignation of Faure Gnassingbé, recently appointed President of the Council of Ministers under a controversial constitutional shift.
Human rights groups decry violent clampdown
A coalition of Togolese civil society and human rights organisations, including ODDH (Togolese Human Rights Observatory), accused security forces and armed militias of violently targeting demonstrators. The groups said two bodies were recovered from a lake in Akodessewa, and another two from a lagoon in the Be district.
‘The streets of Lome were once again the scene of brutal and systematic repression,’ the organisations said in a joint statement. ‘The demonstrations initiated by Togolese youth were savagely repressed by the police, in an operation that seems to have been designed to terrorise rather than to restore public order.’
No government statement on casualties
Togolese authorities have yet to comment on the reported deaths or arrests. However, in a separate statement issued on June 6, the government warned citizens against sharing ‘unfounded information’ on social media that could disturb public order, threatening legal action against offenders.
Opposition and Amnesty call for action
Major opposition parties, including the National Alliance for Change, have condemned the government’s response and repeated calls for President Gnassingbé’s resignation. They have also voiced strong opposition to the new constitution, which they say consolidates power in the hands of a single individual.
Amnesty International issued a statement on June 17 urging Togolese authorities to investigate credible allegations of torture against protesters detained during earlier demonstrations on June 5 and 6.
Reform triggers political storm
The unrest follows constitutional changes passed by Togo’s parliament last year that transitioned the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system. Under the new framework, executive authority now lies with a President of the Council of Ministers — a role currently occupied by Faure Gnassingbé.
Although a ceremonial president was elected in May for a six-year term, critics say the reforms effectively allow Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005, to extend his hold on power indefinitely.
Rising calls for justice and reform
The protests, organised by civil society activists and bloggers, were also fuelled by growing frustration over economic hardship and the suppression of dissent. Rights groups say the use of force in Lome reflects a wider pattern of intimidation and rights abuses.
With international concern rising, calls are mounting for the Togolese government to investigate the killings, release detained protesters, and respect citizens’ constitutional rights to free expression and assembly.
