Togo’s opposition calls for fresh anti-government protests

A group of Togolese opposition parties has called for a march in the capital Lome on 30 and 31 August to demand political reforms, according to a statement released Wednesday evening.

Cap 2015, a coalition of five parties, the Pan-African National Party (PNP) and another group of six parties also demanded the release of those arrested on 19 August during PNP demonstrations, and who are detained in several Cities of the country.

“In response to the expectations of the Togolese people, Cap 2015, the Groupe des 6 and the PNP agreed on Wednesday and agreed to join forces to bring about the liberation of Togo,” the statement said.

“Already, Cap 2015, the Group of 6 and the PNP have made arrangements to contact other opposition political parties, civil society organizations, the Diaspora and all patriots, so that they can reinforce this great movement of national liberation, “adds the text.

The political parties are also calling for an “independent investigation to bring to justice the perpetrators and the sponsors of the violence” recorded during Saturday’s demonstrations, which left two people dead.

Thousands of Togolese nationals held demonstrations simultaneously in Accra, Libreville, New York and Berlin and the capital Lome on Saturday, 19 August.

The demonstrations demanded the reinstatement of the 1992 constitution that limits the term of the president.

The Togolese opposition has been demanding for ten years that the Constitution – modified in 2002 – be revised, in particular to reintroduce a limitation of presidential terms to 10 years at the most.

It also calls for a two-ballot system, a constitutional reform of the Constitutional Court and the Electoral Commission.

President Faure Gnassingbé succeeded his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma – who ruled Togo with an iron fist for 38 years – in 2005 with the support of the army. He was re-elected in 2010 and In 2015 at highly contested elections by the opposition.

Adira Kallo with agencies