The capital city of Togo is witnessing a surge in efforts to reject the newly established constitution initiated by the ruling party, despite the government’s systematic prohibition of many protests.
Last week, the Front “Touche Pas à Ma Constitution” planned a sit-in outside the Constitutional Court, but the event was halted due to a ban by the authorities. Undeterred, civil society groups continue to explore alternative avenues to express their opposition.
Although public turnout at these events has not reached the levels seen in 2017-2018, the movement’s leaders—comprising mainly civil society activists and opposition figures—remain steadfast. They persist in raising awareness among the populace about what they describe as a “constitutional coup” orchestrated by those in power.
A “grand popular meeting” is scheduled for Sunday, August 18, 2024, near the Agoè-Nyivé Prefectural Stadium in the northwestern suburbs of Lomé. The event’s aim is clear: to resist the newly implemented law that ushers in the country’s Fifth Republic.
This demonstration is spearheaded by a coalition of civil society organizations, including “Novation Internationale.”
The new constitution, ratified by President Faure Gnassingbé on May 6, 2024, shifts Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system. This change not only abolishes presidential elections but also resets the term limit count for the head of state, effectively allowing him to remain in power despite having already served one term under the previous constitution, which limited presidents to two terms.