Seven people lost their lives during anti-government protests in Togo last week, human rights activists reported, accusing security forces of brutal repression.
The demonstrations erupted last Thursday, demanding the resignation of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe amid rising living costs that have strained the population.
Reuters witnesses observed soldiers deploying tear gas and wielding batons to violently disperse crowds gathered in the capital and surrounding areas.
A coalition of 12 civil society and human rights groups issued a joint statement condemning arbitrary arrests, beatings with batons and ropes, and destruction of private property.
Three bodies, including two minors, were found near Be lagoon east of Lome on Friday, while two brothers’ bodies were discovered in Akodessewa lake the same day.
Two additional bodies appeared on Saturday in Nyekonakpoe, another district of Lome, deepening concerns over the severity of the crackdown.
The government acknowledged recovering bodies from the water but attributed the deaths to drowning, offering condolences and urging caution near water bodies during the rainy season.
Political tensions simmer in Togo, where Gnassingbe’s family has ruled since 1967, and his recent assumption of the powerful, indefinite role of President of the Council of Ministers fuels fears of democratic erosion.
Civil society groups warn that this new title symbolizes further entrenchment of power, echoing wider West African trends of authoritarianism under the guise of stability.
The government praised security forces’ response, reporting multiple arrests during protests, though many detainees were later released amid international criticism.
Amnesty International decried the crackdown as a harsh suppression of dissent, urging the government to respect human rights and political freedoms.
The handling of protests and ongoing political unrest highlight Togo’s fragile democracy struggling under decades of concentrated power and public frustration.
