Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé is under increasing pressure after the government cracked down heavily on protests in early June. Demonstrators demanded his resignation over recent constitutional changes that could keep him in power indefinitely. Following the protests in Lomé, dozens of people were arrested. According to Amnesty International, there have also been cases of torture.
In the aftermath of the demonstrations on June 6, 2025, various groups and individuals—including many influencers and bloggers—once again called for resistance to reinforce their demands.
Protests were carried out over a period of three days, from June 26 to June 28, 2025. During this time, the military reportedly beat people indiscriminately and even pursued them into their homes, according to media reports. So far, seven deaths have been confirmed. The number of those imprisoned is believed to be high, and there are fears that detainees may be subjected to torture.
The Togolese head of state, who has ruled since the death of his father in 2005, was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers in May following extensive constitutional reforms. This position grants him the most powerful role in the country, with no term limits and the possibility of indefinite re-election by parliament. Opposition politicians have condemned this as a “constitutional coup.” A new coalition of political groups known as “Hands Off My Constitution” has called for the immediate release of all detainees and “an end to this regime, which after 20 years of absolute and repressive power under Faure Gnassingbé, has nothing left to offer the people.”
People are protesting not only against the harsh crackdown on critical voices but also against rising electricity prices. Overall, the country’s economic situation remains poor.
Since 2022, demonstrations have been banned in Togo following a deadly attack at Lomé’s main market. The public prosecutor defended the arrests, describing the protests as “part of a revolt against the institutions of the Republic.”
Both the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Bremen Mission sent open pastoral letters to the leadership of the Église Évangélique Presbytérienne du Togo (EPPT). They expressed what many people in Togo—and Togolese living abroad—are feeling right now: a call for the government to refrain from violence in the current conflict and to uphold human rights and human dignity.
Even though the international public remains largely silent about what is happening in Togo, it is clear that injustice is being carried out there.
