In a controversial move, Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbe, has signed a new constitution that abolishes presidential elections, paving the way for Parliament, dominated by his ruling party, to select future presidents.
This development follows the recent parliamentary elections where Gnassingbe’s party secured a majority, as announced by the election commission last Saturday.
The new constitution, which also extends presidential terms from five to six years and introduces a one-time term limit, will not count the nearly two decades Gnassingbe has already served. This could allow him to remain in power beyond his current term, which ends in 2025.
The political opposition, civil society, and religious leaders see this new constitution as a manoeuvre to perpetuate the Gnassingbe family’s rule, which spans nearly six decades.
These changes come amid a backdrop of increasing restrictions on civic freedoms. In the lead-up to this constitutional revision, the government banned protests, detained opposition leaders, and restricted media coverage by suspending foreign journalists’ accreditation and banning the Catholic Church from observing the elections.
The new constitution also creates a position akin to a prime minister, to be filled by a ruling party member, which critics argue could further consolidate Gnassingbe’s control in Togo.
In response to these developments, civil society groups have called for nationwide protests to demand the reinstatement of the previous constitution.
