Three days of protests leave seven dead in Togo, rights groups say

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Three days of protests leave seven dead in Togo, rights groups say

Civil rights defense groups say that at least seven people were killed during a repression against the demonstrators who call the head of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, to resign and release political prisoners.

The reports indicate that dozens of people have been injured – some seriously.

This comes from weeks after Gnassingbé – who was president for two decades and whose family has governed the country for 58 years – has sworn a new position as president of the Council of Ministers, who has no limits of official mandate.

The Togolese government has now threatened legal action against the protest organizers, describing demonstrations as a “disinformation and hatred campaign” which was orchestrated from abroad.

Demonstrations have been prohibited in the West African country since 2022, the authorities citing “security reasons”.

Three days of demonstrations by online activists and movements led by young people started in the capital, Lomé, before taking a violent turn on Friday and Saturday.

L schools were dismissed by anti-riot police officers on demonstrators, who bordered them with stones and other missiles.

Certain determined anti -government demonstrators have engaged security forces in street battles in several areas considered as opposition bastions, notably BE, where the police continued its demonstrators in their hiding places.

A coalition of 23 Togolese civil rights groups – known as the “national platform for the efficiency of space and civic development” – asked the authorities to conduct investigations into the bloody police repression.

They condemned what they described as “the use of the disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators”, adding that “the peaceful protest is a fundamental right, recognized both by the Togolese Constitution and by international instruments ratified by our country”.

On Sunday, Calm had returned to most of Lomé, with stores reopened on the main central market of Assigamé and companies operating as usual.

The recent change of diet orchestrated by the Togolese leader continues to feed resentment. In addition to the new position he can keep for life, the constitutional reform of Togo has ended the presidential elections and introduced a parliamentary system.

The arrest and psychiatric detention last month of the Togolese rapper Narcisse Essowè Tchalla, also known as Aamron, acted as a catalyst for the indignation of the public, leading to more than 50 arrests during the demonstrations earlier this month.

Although most have been released, at least three people remain in detention.