Hundreds of people gathered in Vogan, southern Togo, on Sunday to protest against the country’s new constitution, which they claim will allow President Faure Gnassingbé to maintain his power indefinitely.
The rally, organized by the National Concertation Council for Change in Togo (CNCC), a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organizations, took place about 60 kilometers from Lomé. It is the second meeting of this coalition in three months, following an initial mobilization held early May, in a context where opposition protests have become relatively rare.
Protesters carried signs with slogans such as “No to unconstitutional government change” or “Constitutional coup,” denouncing the reform they see as illegitimate.
‘The Constitution adopted in 2024 is completely illegitimate. It’s a constitutional coup that Togolese will never accept,’ said David Dosseh, spokesperson for the Front Citizen Togo Debout (FCTD), one of the organizations behind the mobilization.
The new Fundamental Law, which came into effect in 2024, fundamentally modified Togo’s institutions. It ended the direct election of the head of state and introduced a parliamentary system. The post of President of the Council, now the highest executive position in the country, is held by Faure Gnassingbé, who has been in power since 2005.
Opposition and civil society actors believe this reform aims to extend his rule indefinitely, while the president’s camp defends a text that they claim strengthens institutional representation.
Tensions surrounding this reform have already led to protests in 2025, resulting in seven deaths according to civil society, while the prosecutor’s office cites five deaths due to drowning.
In a ruling issued on January 29, the Community Court of West African States (CEDEAO) ruled that this reform constituted ‘a change in government unconstitutional.’ The Togolese government rejected this decision, claiming the court exceeded its authority, which it limits to ensuring respect for human rights and community law without being able to pronounce on internal law.