Correction: Viral video falsely claimed to show protest in Togo, footage is from Kenya

Roya News

6 days ago

Roya News English previously shared a video on social media claiming to show a large protest in Togo against President Faure Gnassingbé. We have since learned that the footage was actually taken in Nairobi, Kenya, during recent demonstrations against President William Ruto. We regret the error and apologize for the misrepresentation.
The video, which showed crowds marching along a highway with smoke rising in the background, was widely circulated online. The accompanying caption incorrectly stated that it depicted Togolese citizens protesting constitutional changes aimed at extending President Gnassingbé's time in power.
While Togo has indeed witnessed anti-government protests in recent weeks, triggered by arrests of opposition figures, rising electricity costs, and a controversial constitutional reform, the video in question is unrelated to those events.
The clarification comes after a fact-check by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which identified the video's true origin using both audio and visual analysis. Swahili - a language not spoken in Togo - can be heard in the footage. Additionally, road signs visible in the video point to Nairobi landmarks such as Kamiti Road, Garden City, and Mombasa.
Using geolocation tools and satellite imagery, AFP confirmed that the footage was filmed on Thika Road in Nairobi during protests on June 25, 2025. The demonstrations marked the anniversary of deadly unrest in 2024 and were met with a heavy police response. The Kenyan government later claimed it had thwarted a coup attempt and labeled the protests as acts of terrorism.
We thank AFP Fact Check for its verification work, which helped clarify the origins of the footage and prevent further misinformation.