Keypoints:
- Togo soldiers clash with protesters in Lomé
- Anger mounts over Gnassingbé’s new role
- Dozens arrested, media outlets suspended
TOGO descended into unrest on Thursday as soldiers used tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding the resignation of President Faure Gnassingbé, according to Reuters witnesses on the ground.
The demonstrations, led by bloggers and youth activists, blocked key roads in Lomé, igniting anger over the president’s recent appointment as President of the Council of Ministers, a powerful new position with no term limit. Opposition leaders have labelled the move a ‘constitutional coup’, claiming it cements Gnassingbé’s grip on power.
The Gnassingbé family has ruled Togo since 1967, with Faure Gnassingbé taking office in 2005 following the death of his father. His extended tenure has drawn growing criticism both domestically and abroad.
Soldiers disperse crowds as protests spread
Although protest organisers had planned three days of demonstrations, security forces moved swiftly on the first day. Reuters reporters described chaotic scenes as troops cleared demonstrators, while businesses shuttered and thick smoke filled the air from burning tyres and barricades.
‘We’re hungry. Nothing works for Togolese youth anymore, that’s why we’re out here protesting,’ said Kossi Albert, a 30-year-old unemployed protester in Lomé. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow. We need change.’
No comment has yet been issued by Territorial Administration Minister Hodabalo Awate regarding the response by state security forces.
Dozens arrested as rights groups raise alarm
The Thursday protests followed a previous round of unrest earlier in June, during which Amnesty International reported dozens of people were arrested amid demonstrations opposing Gnassingbé’s new role and the country’s growing cost-of-living crisis. Most were released shortly after detention, but rights groups have flagged concerns about shrinking civic space.
Protesters have accused the government of silencing critics and failing to address soaring unemployment and inflation. The political reshuffle, they say, serves to consolidate authoritarian control rather than bring democratic reform.
Media blackout sparks censorship concerns
The crackdown has also extended to the press. Last week, the Togolese government suspended the broadcasts of France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) for three months, alleging bias and lack of journalistic rigour. Both outlets are among France’s most prominent international broadcasters.
The move drew criticism from media watchdogs, who view the suspension as part of a broader clampdown on freedom of expression in the country.
A nation at a crossroads
Despite the show of force, Thursday’s demonstrations suggest that public frustration is growing. Togo’s opposition parties and civil society groups have vowed to continue mobilising, calling for accountability and international support.
Analysts warn that if Gnassingbé’s government does not address the root causes of unrest—including youth unemployment, high prices, and a lack of political reform—it could face prolonged instability.
As tensions mount and more protests are expected in the coming days, Togo appears to be entering a critical political juncture—caught between entrenched leadership and an increasingly vocal citizenry demanding change.
