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HomeGENERAL NEWSAFRICAPresident Faure Gnassingbé Bloody Crackdown on Protest in Togo: Seven Dead, Over...

President Faure Gnassingbé Bloody Crackdown on Protest in Togo: Seven Dead, Over 60 Arrested

From June 26 to 28, demonstrators who took to the streets of Lomé, Togo, to oppose constitutional changes that could allow President Faure Gnassingbé to remain in power indefinitely became victims of a violent crackdown by Togolese security forces.

A similar crackdown was meted out to demonstrators who hit the streets three weeks earlier to make the same demands.

These brutal attacks against Togolese expressing their concerns through protests, coupled with instances of arbitrary arrests of activists, and repressive acts by the Togolese police, reflect the repressive environment in Togo, which continuously contracts the civic space and curtails civil liberties, according to the Media Foundation for West Africa.

The organisation condemned the violent repression of civilians during the recent protests in Togo and demanded accountability from the authorities.

MFWA said it was “deeply alarmed” by the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations held in Lomé, Togo.

Amid a particularly tense political climate, marked by the controversial adoption of a new constitution, citizens have mobilised to denounce what they see as yet another power grab by Gnassingbé. The protests were initiated by opposition voices, civil society groups and some cyber activists.

These demonstrations followed earlier protests on June 5 and 6, which were also met with arrests. Despite this, citizens rallied once again to make their voices heard.

On June 24, ahead of the planned demonstrations, the Togolese government issued a stern warning, declaring the protests illegal. A presidential adviser emphasised that “any demonstration must be submitted to the competent authorities,” and noted that the planned gatherings had not been authorised.

On June 26-28, protests took place in several neighbourhoods across Lomé. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations were quickly and violently dispersed. Security forces, reportedly aided by plainclothes militia, used brutal force. Many unarmed protesters were beaten, and numerous bystanders and residents were arrested without legal justification.

The human toll is devastating, with seven people confirmed dead. On the morning of June 27, two brothers, aged 22 and 25, were found in the Fourth Lake in the Akodessewa neighbourhood. According to their sibling, the young men had gone missing during the night of June 25–26 after attending an event.

Later that day, three more bodies were discovered in the Bè Lagoon. Witnesses and initial reports indicated injuries consistent with the use of live ammunition. Among the victims were a 16-year-old boy who had just passed his junior secondary school exam, and a public latrine attendant who was shot while trying to help a wounded child.

Two additional bodies were found on June 28 in the Nyekonakpoé Lagoon, bringing the total death toll to seven. More than 60 people were arrested, and dozens were injured.

In response to the public outcry, Togolese authorities denied any wrongdoing. Instead, the government accused “foreign-based actors” of attempting to destabilise the country through disinformation and incitement to violence. Officials claimed that public order had been ‘professionally’ restored and promised to prosecute the protest organisers, including those living abroad.

The government dismissed reports of excessive force and fatalities as politically motivated fabrications.

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