Togolese opposition protest against ‘forced shift’ to parliamentary rule
Story By: Rebecca Okine
Hundreds of supporters from Togo’s opposition parties, including the National Alliance for Change (ANC) led by Jean-Pierre Fabre and the Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR), took to the streets of Lomé on Sunday, May 4, to protest what they are calling a “forced transition” to a parliamentary system.
Joined by several civil society organisations, demonstrators accused President Faure Gnassingbé’s regime of bypassing the people by introducing constitutional changes without a national referendum. They claim the shift, approved just a day earlier by a parliament dominated by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, is a calculated move to extend Gnassingbé’s power. Under the new arrangement, the president has been appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers—a role that significantly strengthens his position within the new parliamentary framework.
The decision, formalised on May 3, comes just as Gnassingbé’s official term expired, following the 2020 elections held under a revised 2019 Constitution that reintroduced presidential term limits. Opposition leaders argue the restructuring undermines democratic principles and effectively allows the president to remain in control indefinitely. The parliament responsible for endorsing the change includes members of both the National Assembly and a newly formed Senate, both largely controlled by the ruling party. Critics say the shift represents not just a constitutional reconfiguration, but a deeper entrenchment of authoritarian rule in Togo.
