Togo's Parliament Approves Constitutional Reforms Extending President's Term Amid Opposition Protests

Togo's parliament has approved constitutional reforms that would switch the country to a parliamentary system, a move that opposition parties claim will allow President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his grip on power.

The reforms were passed with 87 lawmakers present all agreeing to the new system, despite fierce opposition claims that it amounts to a "constitutional coup" that could prolong the Gnassingbé family's 57-year rule until 2031.

The new constitution creates a prime minister-like position of "president of the council of ministers" that would be chosen by parliament, which is dominated by Gnassingbé's ruling party. Opposition parties fear this will allow Gnassingbé to stay in power indefinitely, as the current constitution would only allow him to run for one more term in 2025. The reforms shift power to the new parliament-elected position, which the opposition believes Gnassingbé will appoint himself to.

Why this matters: The constitutional changes in Togo have sparked protests and accusations of a power grab by the president, highlighting ongoing tensions over term limits and democratic transitions in the West African nation. The reforms could have significant implications for Togo's political future and stability in the region.

Gnassingbé has been in power since 2005, succeeding his father who had ruled Togo for 38 years. He had already amended the constitution in 2019 to reset his term limits and run for two additional mandates. The opposition had planned demonstrations against the latest reforms but were banned by authorities. An ECOWAS regional observation mission has been monitoring the situation in the capital Lomé.

The constitutional changes were approved just days before legislative elections scheduled for April 29, which opposition parties plan to participate in after boycotting the last elections in 2018. The opposition has criticized the timing of the reforms ahead of the vote. "The National Assembly has been dissolved and the electoral code modified, yet we are expected to go to the polls on April 29," said opposition leader Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson. The new parliamentary system will be tested in the upcoming elections, where the opposition hopes to gain ground despite the constitutional changes they claim are aimed at consolidating the president's power.

Key Takeaways

• Togo's parliament approved constitutional reforms to switch to a parliamentary system.
• The opposition claims reforms allow President Gnassingbé to extend his 57-year family rule.
• The reforms create a parliament-elected "president of the council of ministers" position.
• The reforms were approved days before April 29 legislative elections, which the opposition plans to contest.
• ECOWAS regional observation mission monitoring the situation in the capital Lomé.