Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé is under mounting pressure after controversial constitutional changes sparked protests demanding his resignation. The reforms grant him a powerful new role—President of the Council of Ministers—with no term limits, allowing indefinite re-election by parliament. Activists and opposition groups have labelled the move a “constitutional coup,” with protests erupting in Lomé, the nation’s capital, and online. His government clamped down on the protesters, arresting 80. While about half of these have already been released, Amnesty International and local rights groups have condemned the alleged mistreatment of the demonstrators and called for the release of the remaining detainees. Protests are rare in Togo, where they have been banned since 2022. However, recent developments reignited public frustration in a region already grappling with democratic backsliding.
AP
