Togo’s president, Faure Gnassingbe, has signed a new constitution eliminating direct presidential elections, which will allow him to extend his family’s reign, which has lasted for over six decades.
This was confirmed by a statement from his office on Monday evening.
The revised constitution grants parliament the authority to select the president, effectively abolishing direct elections. The new constitution comes days after the election commission on Saturday announced that President Faure Gnassingbé’s ruling party had won a majority of parliament seats.
Critics, including the political opposition, religious leaders, and civil society, argue that this move paves the way for Gnassingbé to remain in power beyond his current mandate, which expires in 2025.
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Togo has been under the rule of the same family for 57 years, initially under Eyadema Gnassingbé and later continued by his son, Faure Gnassingbé. Faure assumed office following elections that were heavily criticized by the opposition as fraudulent.
Civil society groups in Togo are mobilizing for protests following the adoption of a new constitution.
