Latest news with #HandsOffMyConstitution
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Security forces disperse Togo protesters demanding president's resignation
Security forces used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who blocked roads in Togo's capital to demand the resignation of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe. Hundreds of protesters set up concrete block barricades on Thursday in several neighbourhoods of Lome, with some burning tyres and throwing projectiles at security forces. Police dispersed dozens of the protesters with tear gas and arrested several people in the Be neighbourhood, an opposition stronghold. The protests come as Gnassingbe faces increasing calls from critics to resign, over changes to the country's constitution that could keep him in power indefinitely. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests from June 26-28, after the government's clampdown on protests earlier this month. A heavy police presence was set up throughout the capital, where many businesses closed for the day. Military jeeps were also deployed as reinforcements in some areas. 'We're hungry. Nothing works for Togolese youth any more, that's why we're going out to protest this morning,' said Kossi Albert, a 30-year-old unemployed man, adding that he was planning to turn out again on Friday. Hodabalo Awate, Togo's minister of territorial administration, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the security forces' response to the protests. A coalition of political groups known as 'Hands Off My Constitution' said in a Facebook post on Wednesday it 'strongly urges Faure Gnassingbe to immediately and unconditionally release all of the roughly one hundred political prisoners, and to take urgent measures to restore purchasing power to the population'. It called for an 'unprecedented peaceful demonstration'. Gnassingbe, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was in May sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has no official term limits. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a 'constitutional coup' that could extend his rule for life. Togolese authorities arrested dozens of people earlier this month during protests against Gnassingbe's new role as well as what critics described as a crackdown on dissent and a cost-of-living crisis, according to Amnesty International. Many were quickly released, the rights group said. Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022, following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticised in a region that has witnessed coups and other threats to democracy.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Clashes break out in Togo's capital as protesters call for the president's resignation
LOME, Togo: Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several parts of Togo's capital Lomé on Thursday, as President Faure Gnassingbé faced increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. A heavy police presence could be seen throughout the capital, where many businesses remained closed. Hundreds of protesters set up concrete block barricades in several neighborhoods of Lomé, with some burning tires and throwing projectiles at security forces. Military jeeps were deployed as reinforcements in some areas. Police dispersed dozens of protesters with tear gas and arrested around 10 people in the Bè neighborhood, a stronghold of the opposition. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27, and 28, after the government's clampdown on protests early this month. A coalition of political groups known as 'Hands Off My Constitution' said in a Facebook post on Wednesday it 'strongly urges Faure Gnassingbé to immediately and unconditionally release all of the roughly one hundred political prisoners, and to take urgent measures to restore purchasing power to the population. It called for an 'unprecedented peaceful demonstration.' Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was in May sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has no official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by parliament indefinitely. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a 'constitutional coup.' Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Clashes break out in Togo's capital as protesters call for the President's resignation
Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several parts of Togo's capital Lomé on Thursday (June 26, 2025), as President Faure Gnassingbé faced increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the Constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. A heavy police presence could be seen throughout the capital, where many businesses remained closed. Hundreds of protesters set up concrete block barricades in several neighborhoods of Lomé, with some burning tires and throwing projectiles at security forces. Military jeeps were deployed as reinforcements in some areas. Police dispersed dozens of protesters with tear gas and arrested around 10 people in the Bè neighborhood, a stronghold of the opposition. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27, and 28, after the government's clampdown on protests early this month. A coalition of political groups known as 'Hands Off My Constitution' said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (June 25, 2025). It "strongly urges Faure Gnassingbé to immediately and unconditionally release all of the roughly one hundred political prisoners, and to take urgent measures to restore purchasing power to the population. It called for an 'unprecedented peaceful demonstration.' Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was in May sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has not official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by parliament indefinitely. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a 'constitutional coup.' Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Clashes break out in Togo's capital as protesters call for the president's resignation
LOME, Togo (AP) — Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several parts of Togo's capital Lomé on Thursday, as President Faure Gnassingbé faced increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. A heavy police presence could be seen throughout the capital, where many businesses remained closed. Hundreds of protesters set up concrete block barricades in several neighborhoods of Lomé, with some burning tires and throwing projectiles at security forces. Military jeeps were deployed as reinforcements in some areas. Police dispersed dozens of protesters with tear gas and arrested around 10 people in the Bè neighborhood, a stronghold of the opposition. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27, and 28, after the government's clampdown on protests early this month. A coalition of political groups known as 'Hands Off My Constitution' said in a Facebook post on Wednesday it 'strongly urges Faure Gnassingbé to immediately and unconditionally release all of the roughly one hundred political prisoners, and to take urgent measures to restore purchasing power to the population. It called for an 'unprecedented peaceful demonstration.' Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was in May sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has not official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by parliament indefinitely. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a 'constitutional coup.' Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
6 days ago
- Politics
Clashes break out in Togo's capital as protesters call for the president's resignation
LOME, Togo -- Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several parts of Togo's capital Lomé on Thursday, as President Faure Gnassingbé faced increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. A heavy police presence could be seen throughout the capital, where many businesses remained closed. Hundreds of protesters set up concrete block barricades in several neighborhoods of Lomé, with some burning tires and throwing projectiles at security forces. Military jeeps were deployed as reinforcements in some areas. Police dispersed dozens of protesters with tear gas and arrested around 10 people in the Bè neighborhood, a stronghold of the opposition. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27, and 28, after the government's clampdown on protests early this month. A coalition of political groups known as 'Hands Off My Constitution' said in a Facebook post on Wednesday it "strongly urges Faure Gnassingbé to immediately and unconditionally release all of the roughly one hundred political prisoners, and to take urgent measures to restore purchasing power to the population. It called for an 'unprecedented peaceful demonstration.' Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was in May sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has not official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by parliament indefinitely. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a 'constitutional coup.' Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
