Togo’s opposition resists constitutional change: summary

What we know

• Opposition forces in Togo are vehemently opposing proposed constitutional changes that could potentially extend President Faure Gnassingbe's tenure.
• Gnassingbe, who assumed leadership in 2005 following his father's long-standing rule since a 1967 coup, faces renewed resistance from Togo's opposition parties and civil society groups.
• The proposed constitutional amendment, which received approval from a majority of lawmakers, seeks to transition Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government. Under this plan, executive power would be transferred to a newly established "president of the council of ministers," akin to a prime ministerial role.
• Gnassingbe's sway in parliament, largely due to the absence of opposition participation in past elections, has facilitated the adoption of these changes, with 89 out of 91 lawmakers supporting the amendments. According to the proposed alterations, the prime minister, chosen from the majority party in parliament, would serve a fixed six-year term, while the presidency would become a ceremonial position elected solely by parliament, limiting the president's tenure to six years.
• In response to these developments, opposition groups have intensified their calls for widespread popular protests, underscoring deep-seated concerns regarding the potential extension of Gnassingbe's rule.

What they said

In a statement, the Dynamique Pour la Majorité du Peuple (DMP) opposition coalition and other signatories condemned the recent constitutional changes in Togo, asserting that the alterations aimed at presidential term limits and election procedures were merely a political ploy to perpetuate President Gnassingbe's rule indefinitely. "What happened at the National Assembly yesterday is a coup d'etat," they declared, reiterating their call for the populace to mobilize against the amendments. "Large-scale action will be organized over the next few days to say 'no' to this constitution," they affirmed. Brigitte Kafui Johnson, former presidential candidate and leader of the opposition CDPA party, echoed these sentiments, labelling the constitutional amendments as a blatant "power grab." Offering insights into the potential ramifications of the proposed changes, Komlan Avoulete, a Sahel researcher at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a U.S. think tank, said, “Should Gnassingbé promulgate this new constitution after the second or third review without a referendum, it is likely to erode confidence in Togo’s current leaders. This could lead some citizens to seek alternative, potentially undemocratic solutions for ending the Gnassingbé era. Such actions would risk instability and plunge the country into chaos. Hopefully, reason will win over ego.”