Togo is set to hold legislative elections on Monday amidst a backdrop of controversy following a divisive constitutional reform.
Critics argue that the reform, which opponents claim paves the way for President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his family’s decades-long grip on power, will further entrench the political dynasty.
Gnassingbe has been at the helm of the small West African country for nearly 20 years, succeeding his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for almost four decades.
The reform, adopted by lawmakers on April 19, shifts significant power dynamics, making the president’s role largely ceremonial. Under the new system, the president will be elected by parliament rather than the people for a four-year term.
Power will instead reside with the president of the council of ministers, who leads the majority party in the new assembly.
Critics fear that if the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, which currently holds an overwhelming parliamentary majority, wins in the upcoming elections, Gnassingbe could assume the new post, allowing him to bypass presidential term limits.
The opposition, which boycotted the last elections in 2018 citing irregularities, is calling on supporters to turn out in large numbers to challenge the UNIR’s stronghold on power.
However, concerns about transparency and the legitimacy of the electoral process persist.
Tensions are further exacerbated by the risk of spillover from conflicts in the Sahel to the north, highlighting the importance of security and stability in the country.
While supporters of Gnassingbe argue for continuity, citing ongoing development projects such as infrastructure improvements, opponents view the constitutional reform as an attempt to consolidate power and stifle dissent.
Leaders of opposition parties and civil society organizations have denounced the reform as an “institutional coup” and have threatened “large-scale actions” in response.
The situation remains tense as the country prepares for the elections amidst deep-rooted political divisions and concerns over the future of democracy in Togo.
