TOGO IS HOLDING LOCAL ELECTIONS TODAY, FOLLOWING WEEKS OF ANGRY PROTESTS DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF LONGTIME LEADER FAURE GNASSINGBE.
THOUGH SMALL, TOGO HOLDS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE AS A MARITIME AND TRANSIT HUB IN WEST AFRICA, WITH ITS CAPITAL LOME HOSTING A KEY ATLANTIC PORT AND A MAJOR REGIONAL AIRLINE.
AMID A HEAVY SECURITY PRESENCE AND CLOSED LAND BORDERS, VOTERS ARE EXPECTED TO ELECT LEADERS FOR THE COUNTRY’S 117 MUNICIPALITIES, HIGHLIGHTING TENSIONS IN THE POLITICALLY VOLATILE NATION.
PROTESTERS HAVE DELIBERATELY SCHEDULED DEMONSTRATIONS IN LOME TO COINCIDE WITH THE VOTE, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF WIDESPREAD UNREST AND DISRUPTION.
