Amid rising tensions in Togo, opposition voices vehemently oppose major constitutional reforms ahead of the delayed parliamentary elections, accusing President Faure Gnassingbe of orchestrating changes to maintain his grip on power.
The proposed constitutional overhaul, greenlit by lawmakers recently but met with public outrage over its clandestine passage through parliament, aims to transition Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system, marking the country’s shift to its fifth republic. However, opposition activists perceive this move as a calculated maneuver to enable Gnassingbe, entrenched in power for nearly six decades, to retain control – albeit under a different title – thus perpetuating a dynastic regime.
The postponement of parliamentary elections by Gnassingbe last week only fueled the unrest, with the subsequent announcement of rescheduled elections on April 29 intensifying the turmoil. In response, the government warned against planned protests, branding them illegal. Nonetheless, opposition leaders have vowed to proceed with demonstrations on April 12 and 13, despite the recent arrests of nine opposition figures.
Amid this backdrop, Gerard Djossou of the Dynamique pour La Majorite du Peuple (DMP) coalition emphasized the sanctity of the constitution as a cornerstone of stability, highlighting the lack of public consultation in the current constitutional revisions compared to the overwhelming popular endorsement in 1992.
Understanding the context, it’s crucial to examine the political landscape and Faure Gnassingbe’s ascendancy to power. Togo, with a population of approximately eight million, has been under the dominance of the Gnassingbe family for nearly six decades. Gnassingbe, elevated to the presidency at a tender age following his father’s death in 2005, faced widespread condemnation amid allegations of electoral malpractice and violent suppression of dissent during his initial tenure. Subsequent protests in 2017 and 2018 demanded adherence to the two-term limit stipulated in the original 1992 constitution, a provision abolished by parliamentary amendments in 2002. While amendments in 2019 seemingly reinstated term limits, critics remain wary of Gnassingbe’s intentions to perpetuate his rule beyond the prescribed limits.
Against this backdrop, Gnassingbe’s opponents, including the late Agbeyome Kodjo, leader of the Dynamique Monseigneur Kpodzro movement (DMK), voiced concerns over the president’s latest constitutional amendments, fearing they serve to entrench his authority even after the expiry of term limits. Kodjo’s demise in exile earlier this year underscored the heightened stakes in Togo’s political arena, as Gnassingbe continues to navigate a landscape marked by dissent and opposition to his prolonged rule.
