Protesters in Lomé, Togo's capital, ignite confrontations, demanding the president's departure from office.
🌟Lome, Togo: Chaos ensued on the streets of the capital as protesters clashed with authorities, calling for the resignation of President Faure Gnassingbe. Tensions have been brewing since a controversial set of constitutional changes granted the President the potential for indefinite rule.
📅go back to June 26, 2025, and you'll see protesters taking to the streets, constructing barricades out of concrete blocks, torching tires, and hurling projectiles at the police. The city was a hotbed of conflict, with military jeeps patrolling as reinforcements and police dispersing crowds with tear gas, leading to several arrests in the Bè neighborhood, a stronghold for opposition supporters.
💬Civil society groups and influencers on social media had been rallying for protests since June 26 and urged the public to join an "unprecedented peaceful demonstration." A coalition of political groups, "Hands Off My Constitution," also called for the release of political prisoners and the government to take immediate steps to address the cost-of-living crisis.
👑 Faure Gnassingbe has been at the helm since 2005 when he took over after the death of his father. His recent assumption of the role of President of the Council of Ministers, a powerful position with no official term limits, has stirred up controversy. Under the revised constitution, he is eligible for re-election indefinitely by the parliament, sparking outcry from opposition leaders who view this as a power grab.
👎Opposition groups like "Hands Off My Constitution" denounce this move as a "constitutional coup," reflecting a broader concern about the erosion of democracy. They call for an end to over 20 years of repressive rule.
🔥International human rights organizations have slammed the government's response to the protests. Credible allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees have been made. Protests are officially banned in Togo since 2022 due to a deadly market attack in Lomé. Despite this, opposition groups continue to support the youth-led protests in pursuit of political change.
Sources:
- [1] Africa News, 2025. "Violent protests rock Lome as people demand President Gnassingbe's resignation." Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.africanews.com/2025/06/26/violent-protests-rock-lome-as-people-demand-president-gnassingbe-s-resignation/
- [2] Amnesty International, 2025. "Togo: At least 100 pro-democracy protesters arrested in Lomé." Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/06/togo-at-least-100-pro-democracy-protesters-arrested-in-lome/
- [3] BBC News, 2025. "Togo protesters demand release of political prisoners." Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58689543
- [4] CIA World Factbook, 2025. "Togo." Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.cia.gov/directory/country/to.html
- [5] Al Jazeera, 2025. "Togo's constitutional reforms: Intent and impact." Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/21/togo-constitutional-reforms-intent-and-impact
World news reported severe clashes on June 26, 2025, in Lome, Togo, as protesters opposed President Faure Gnassingbe's constitutional changes allowing indefinite rule. Articles from international human rights organizations denounced the government's response to the protests, with credible allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees. Meanwhile, politics remain heated as opposition groups like "Hands Off My Constitution" continue to demand an end to repressive rule, calling for the release of political prisoners and addressing the cost-of-living crisis. The general-news landscape is dominated by this ongoing conflict in the world, with war-and-conflicts and business sectors carefully monitoring the situation.
