ON THE CONTINENT
FOLLOWING THE CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION THAT COULD KEEP HIM IN POWER INDEFINITELY, THE PRESIDENT OF TOGO, FAURE GNASSINGBE’S HAS FACED INCREASING PRESSURE FROM CRITICS, WITH CLASHES BREAKING OUT BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND SECURITY FORCES IN LOME, THE COUNTRY’S CAPITAL.
GNASSINGBE WHO HAS RULED AS PRINCIPAL SINCE 2005 WAS AGAIN SWORN IN AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN MAY, A ROLE THAT GIVES HIM ELIGIBILITY TO BE RE-ELECTED BY THE PARLIAMENT INDEFINITELY AS IT HAS NO OFFICIAL TERM.
HOWEVER, DESPITE THE BAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS IN THE COUNTRY HAD CALLED FOR PROTESTS STARTING YESTERDAY, DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL 100 POLITICAL PRISONERS AND MEASURES TO RESTORE FRANCHISE TO THE POPULATION. THE LATEST CHANGE IN TOGO’S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED AS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.
