If voters in Togo back President Faure Gnassingbé’s party in the upcoming parliamentary elections, his family’s dominance over the country could stretch into a seventh decade. The forthcoming Monday election follows a disputed decision by the parliament a week earlier to pass a constitutional amendment, creating a prime minister-like role to be occupied by the biggest party’s leader. This move was vehemently protested by the opposition who perceived it as yet another manoeuvre by Gnassingbé and his Union for the Republic party to circumvent presidential tenure restrictions.
The incumbent party, with a majority in the 91-seat National Assembly that it is likely to maintain post-election, may enable Gnassingbé (57) to take up the newly instituted role, under the official title of president of the council of ministers, when his current tenure concludes next year.
Gnassingbé, who ascended to the presidential office in 2005 after his father Gnassingbé Eyadéma, has been governing Togo since then. His father, an army officer, came to power following a 1967 military coup and held the reins for nearly forty years until he passed away. The Gnassingbé family has overseen the nation of 8.8 million people for the greater part of the 64 years since it became independent from France.
In reaction to the constitutional amendment, Togo’s primary opposition coalition has urged citizens to protest in the streets, highlighting the lack of public accessibility to the full text of the constitutional change. The group referred to the occurrences at the National Assembly as a coup d’état, warning it could have grave implications for the country as the intention was to perpetuate power within a family and ensure lifelong presidency for one individual. The opposition vowed to orchestrate massive action in the ensuing days to oppose this constitution.
Togo’s controversy emerges amidst a wider trend of democratic regression in west and central African nations, a region that has seen successful coups in eight nations including Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Gabon since 2020. Leaders in multiple countries in the region – Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, and Guinea (pre its 2020 coup) – have altered their constitutions to lengthen their rules.
The West African States Economic Community, a regional bloc known for its advocacy of democracy and its stern opposition to coup d’etats, sent a team to the capital of Togo, Lomé, but did not publicly express their views on the current affairs. According to Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, an analyst specialising in West African democracy at the think tank Centre for Democracy and Development, Togo’s situation is indicative of the fact that not all threats to democratic principles stem from coups. In certain circumstances, democratically-elected leaders exploit state mechanisms to sustain their hold on power.
In his term, Gnassingbé has implemented contentious changes to the constitution. In 2019, term limitations, which would see a president serve a maximum of two five-year periods, were reinstated by the parliament – a rule previously abolished by Gnassingbé’s predecessor 17 years prior. However, this rule was non-retrospective, enabling him to compete in contentious elections the following year.
Though legally permitted to partake in next year’s elections, experts argue a public vote is unlikely due to a recent amendment transferring the power of presidential selection to parliament. This change also limited presidential powers, and instated the president of the council of ministers as the government’s most influential figure.
Komlan Avoulete, a Togo specialist, expressed worry that the way in which these changes were executed have heightened fears around the governing party bolstering its power. Avoulete added that these events have cast doubt over the government’s adherence to democratic principles, and for Togo to successfully establish a robust democracy, unwavering commitment to fair elections and transparent governance is indispensable, irrespective of the chosen political model.
The African affairs bureau of the US state department revealed their deep concern regarding the Togolese parliament’s approval of “noteworthy constitutional amendments” without public disclosure of the details. They urged the Togolese government to allow open and informed discussions, guarantee inclusivity and transparency, and respect the right to peaceful protest.
In recent times, Togolese officials have curtailed protests and earlier this month, alleged that proposed opposition rallies would create public disorder.
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