Widespread Demonstrations Erupt in Togo Over Proposed Constitutional Reforms
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Vogan, a town in southern Togo, on Sunday to voice their opposition to a proposed constitutional reform that they claim would allow President Faure Gnassingbé to maintain his grip on power indefinitely.
The demonstration, organized by the Cadré national de concertation pour le changement au Togo (CNCC), a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organizations, was held approximately 60 kilometers from the capital city of Lomé.
Protesters carried banners with slogans such as ‘No to unconstitutional government change’ or ‘Constitutional coup d’état’, denouncing what they perceive as an illegitimate reform.
‘The 2024 constitution is entirely illegal. It’s a constitutional coup that Togolese will never accept,’ said David Dosseh, spokesperson for the Front citoyen Togo debout (FCTD), one of the organizations behind the mobilization.
The new Fundamental Law, which came into effect in 2024, has significantly altered Togo’s institutions. It abolished direct presidential elections and introduced a parliamentary system. The current president of the Council, Faure Gnassingbé, holds the most powerful executive position in the country.
Opposition groups and civil society actors believe that this reform aims to extend his rule indefinitely. In contrast, the government defends the text as strengthening institutional representation.
Tensions surrounding this reform have already led to protests in 2025, resulting in seven reported deaths according to civil society sources. Meanwhile, authorities cite five drowning-related fatalities.
A January 29 court ruling by the Community Court of Justice and Arbitration of the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) deemed the reform ‘an unconstitutional change in government’. The Togolese government rejected this decision, claiming that the court overstepped its authority, which is limited to monitoring human rights and international law without being able to judge internal legislation.