Security forces in Togo on Thursday fired teargas and used batons to break up protesters gathered at Lome, the country’s capital, to demand the resignation of the president, Faure Gnassingbe.
The protest was organised by civil society groups and social media influencers amid growing calls for Mr Gnassingbe’s resignation.
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Al Jazeera reported that the protest was scheduled to last for two days, from 26 to 28 June.
Protesters gathered in their hundreds and barricaded the roads on different streets. They burnt tires and wooden furniture and threw projectiles at the security forces.
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This protest comes as the call for the president to step down intensifies.
Mr Gnassigbe has been in power since 2005, following the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo for 38 years. His rise to power has been controversial. After his father’s death, he was swiftly installed by the military.
Meanwhile, in May, Mr Gnassingbe was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers — a newly created role with sweeping powers and no term limits. The position was established in 2024 through a constitutional amendment passed by the country’s parliament.
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His appointment drew widespread criticism as several Togolese considered the move another effort to consolidate power.
Since then, critics have increasingly called for his resignation over his efforts to implement constitutional changes that could keep him in power indefinitely.
The Togolese government had clamped down on earlier protests in the country and arrested dozens of protesters.
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Ahead of the protest on Thursday, soldiers were heavily deployed across the capital, prompting many businesses to shut down for the day. In some parts of the city, military jeeps were brought in as additional reinforcement.
Despite this, protesters trooped out across several streets in hundreds, decrying political strife and economic hardship.
According to Al Jazeera, one of the protesters, identified as Kossi Albert, said, “We’re hungry. Nothing works for Togolese youth any more, that’s why we’re going out to protest this morning.”
Opposition politicians have also condemned Mr Gnassingbe’s new appointment as a “constitutional coup,” warning that it could allow him to remain in power indefinitely.
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