Togo's government says three days of planned protests over the arrest of opposition figures and a new bill abolishing presidential elections are illegal, saying the West African country has been ruled by the same family for almost 60 years. Tensions are rising.
LOME, Togo — Togo's government says three days of protests planned for this week over the arrest of opposition figures and a new bill abolishing presidential elections are illegal, a move that threatens to undermine the country's long-ruled ethnic group. This has heightened tensions in the West African country, which has been suffering from severe violence. Almost 60 years.
The Interior and Security Ministries said the protests, scheduled to begin Thursday, would seriously disrupt public order. In a separate notice, the government postponed parliamentary elections until April 29, postponing voting by just over a week.
A spokesman for the rebel group behind the planned protest said the coalition was considering whether to go ahead with the rally anyway.
“Whenever they panic, they are ready to use all means against the opponent,” spokesman Eric Dupuis told The Associated Press.
Last week, the government arrested nine anti-government activists for conducting political activities at the market. All nine were released on Tuesday night. According to a statement from the public prosecutor's office, they were arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace. Spokesperson for the arrestees, Thomas Koko Nskupoe, said the arrests were arbitrary and abusive.
The proposed constitution, which was passed by lawmakers in late March and is close to becoming law, would abolish direct elections and give parliament the power to choose the president. This makes it more likely that President Faure Gnassingbé will be re-elected when his term ends in 2025.
Opposition parties and clerics say the bill is an effort to extend Nassingbé's rule. Anti-regime protests over the past two decades, particularly in 2005 and 2017, have had deadly consequences, with hundreds of people killed, displaced and expelled.
“The government's response to past protests by opposition groups has been decisive, heavy-handed and heavy-handed,” said Aimé Adi, head of Amnesty International's Togo branch. “Given past bitter experiences, people are far more fearful and distrustful, and it is difficult to predict whether they will respond en masse to the opposition's calls for protests.”
Togo, with a population of about 8 million people, has been ruled by the same family for 57 years, first by Eyadema Gnassingbé and then by his son. Faure Gnassingbé has been president since 2005 after winning an election that opposition parties described as fraudulent.
Some legal experts say the constitution could actually limit the powers of future presidents because it introduces a one-term limit and devolves greater powers to a new person similar to the prime minister. Says. But opposition parties are concerned that the creation of a new role, officially the head of the Council of Ministers, could be another means for Gnassingbé to maintain his hold on power.
