Demonstrators gathered in the southern Togolese town of Vogan on Saturday to voice their opposition to the country's newly adopted constitution. Organized by a coalition of civil society groups and opposition parties, the protest drew hundreds of participants demanding a return to the nation's previous governing document.
The demonstration targets the constitutional framework enacted in 2024. Critics and opposition members argue that the changes introduced in the new constitution have allowed President Faure Gnassingbé to strengthen and extend his grip on political power in the West African nation.
Why It Matters
President Faure Gnassingbé has led Togo since 2005, having assumed office following the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled the nation for nearly four decades. The constitutional overhaul passed by lawmakers in 2024 transitioned Togo from a presidential system to a parliamentary one, effectively eliminating direct presidential elections. Under the new system, power is concentrated in a newly created prime ministerial role, which opposition figures argue was specifically designed to allow Gnassingbé to extend his family's multi-decade rule indefinitely without facing public voters.
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