Togo is in the throes of political unrest as President Faure Gnassingbé faces mounting pressure to step down following sweeping constitutional changes that critics say cement his hold on power indefinitely. Demonstrations, arrests, and accusations of repression have rocked the small West African nation in recent days, highlighting deepening public frustration over nearly six decades of dynastic rule.

Gnassingbé, who has governed since 2005 after succeeding his late father, was sworn in last month as President of the Council of Ministers, a newly created executive role that bypasses presidential term limits and allows for indefinite re-election by Parliament every six years. The move, widely viewed as a constitutional manipulation, has sparked what many are calling a democratic crisis in a region already shaken by military coups and rising authoritarianism.

Protests erupted in the capital, Lomé, and across social media platforms late last week. Demonstrators, many from youth-led and civil society groups took to the streets despite a ban on protests since 2022, imposed after a deadly attack in Lomé’s main market. The police arrested around 80 protesters, with local rights groups reporting that at least 25 remain in custody.

Amnesty International’s Togo director, Aimé Adi, condemned the arrests, alleging several protesters were beaten during apprehension. "This type of crackdown only fuels public anger and undermines confidence in state institutions," he said.

A coalition of opposition parties and civil society groups, calling themselves “Hands Off My Constitution,” has emerged as a vocal force against the constitutional changes. The group has called for the immediate release of detainees and for President Gnassingbé to resign, citing over 20 years of entrenched, repressive leadership.

“What the people want is a complete break from a regime that has failed to deliver justice, prosperity, or genuine democracy,” said Professor David Dosseh, a leading figure in the coalition. He described the constitutional reform as a “seizure of power in disguise.”

Togo’s two main opposition parties, Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change jointly denounced the restructuring as a “constitutional coup.” In their statement, they warned the changes threaten to roll back decades of hard-fought democratic progress and insulate the ruling elite from electoral accountability.

“This is not a reform, it’s a regression,” the statement read. “It is the desperate act of a regime clinging to power through manipulation and fear.”

Under the new framework, Togo’s presidency has become mostly ceremonial, now held by 86-year-old Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, a figure with limited political influence. The real authority rests with the Council of Ministers, chaired by Gnassingbé, who faces no term limits under the revised constitution.

Togo, a nation of around 8 million people, has been ruled by the Gnassingbé family for 57 years. The late President Eyadema Gnassingbé ruled for 38 years until his death in 2005, after which Faure Gnassingbé assumed office under controversial circumstances. Elections over the past two decades have consistently been marred by accusations of fraud, intimidation, and suppression of opposition voices.

In 2024, President Gnassingbé oversaw a constitutional revision that replaced direct presidential elections with parliamentary appointments, a move criticized as a strategic ploy to sidestep public accountability.

Togo’s unfolding political crisis comes amid a broader pattern of democratic erosion across West Africa, where military coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have raised alarm about the future of civilian governance. Regional blocs such as ECOWAS and the African Union have yet to issue strong condemnations, though calls for diplomatic pressure are growing.

International human rights organizations are urging greater transparency, independent investigations into protester treatment, and dialogue between the government and the opposition.

With protests gaining momentum and public dissatisfaction rising, the coming weeks could prove pivotal. Many Togolese fear that continued repression will only inflame tensions and further alienate the population. Others are hopeful that internal and external pressure may push the government toward a democratic course correction.

What remains clear is that the fight for constitutional integrity and democratic governance in Togo is far from over.