Political unrest has been on the rise in Togo. As per the reports of multiple sources including the British Broadcasting Corporation, violent clashes took place between law enforcers and demonstrators during several days of political unrest in Togo last month that led to several deaths in the capital city Lomé and the arrests of many protesters who were are calling for the step down of the leader of Togo — President Faure Gnassingbé — and the release of political prisoners. Several political rallies were carried out in the past too over controversies over the constitutional reform made by the government. But it remains unclear whether and how much the political situation will improve in Togo in the coming weeks.
Political criticism and protest rallies have been on the rise since the constitutional revision in the last years that switched the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system. In March 2024, Togolese lawmakers adopted a new constitution that transformed the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, with power shifting to a new President of the Council of Ministers. It also hands executive power to the prime minister, reducing the presidency to a symbolic role. This significant constitutional change replaces the earlier system where the president was directly elected. Now the president will be elected by the parliament without debate for a single six-year term, which was previously five years. The new constitution was approved by the ruling party-dominated parliament.
Credit: https://edition.cnn.com/.
But opposition parties have rejected the constitutional reform and have been criticizing it — from the very beginning — as a move that lacks broad consultation with all stakeholders before the adoption of it and Togo’s current leader, who succeeded his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in 2005 after his ruling of the country with an iron fist for nearly forty years, to consolidate power. Opposition parties and civil society organizations have also called the latest constitutional reform, which was passed unanimously without the presence of opposition in the parliament, a designed “constitutional coup” and a means for the regime to preserve power, signaling further democratic backsliding in Togo, rather than a legitimate constitutional reform and demanded the withdrawal of it.
But it may be difficult to resolve the political crisis in Togo due to political and other reasons. The controversy over the constitutional reform, the suppression of opposition and civic freedoms, contested elections and the lack of trust between the government led by the Union for the Republic party and opposition parties may put hindrances to resolving the political problem. Pertinently saying, opposition parties boycotted Togo’s previous elections and are poorly represented in Togo’s parliament. Amongst others, discriminatory power structures favoring northern ethnic groups, particularly the Kabye, and the lack of any measures may put hindrances to solving political problems resulting from the constitutional change and improve the political situation.
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Though the Togolese government claims that the constitutional reform, which is viewed negatively by opposition groups and international observers, aims to and will improve democracy in Togo that is rendered rather repressive, it remains uncertain how much this will bring good outcomes — especially amidst growing consolidation of power. But addressing the political crisis resulting from the constitutional change in a six-year presidential term limit is desired. Instead of withdrawing the constitution reform, political talks between the government and opposition parties may also help solve the problem and mitigate their concerns. But building trust with the opposition is also needed by the government.
But measures are also vital for the government to address other concerns in Togo to improve the political situation and reduce the repression of the opposition. The emphasis needs to be given to the electoral concerns and the government’s restrictions on political freedoms such as freedom of expression and political assembly, which are often justified by the government based on the security situation. Increased media freedom also needs to be ensured in Togo.
