Opposition parties and civil society groups in Togo have urged the government to delay the upcoming local elections following a wave of violent anti-government protests that have left several people dead.
The country, where President Faure Gnassingbé and his late father have held power for nearly 60 years, has witnessed rare demonstrations recently.
Demonstrators have rallied against electricity price increases, the detention of political opponents, and controversial constitutional reforms seen as strengthening Gnassingbé’s rule.
Civil society groups report that at least seven people have been killed in the unrest, with dozens more injured and over 60 arrested.
On Friday, the opposition National Alliance for Change (ANC), the Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR), and various civil society organisations issued a joint statement condemning what they described as the “violent repression” of demonstrators. They called for the municipal elections, set for July 17, to be postponed indefinitely.
Election campaigning began on Tuesday, but the atmosphere has remained tense in the capital, Lomé, and other cities affected by the protests.
Amnesty International, in a statement on Thursday, July 3, demanded an independent inquiry into reports that Togo’s security forces were responsible for killings, torture, and abductions during the crackdown. The opposition echoed this demand, accusing security forces and pro-government militias of “barbaric” behaviour.
The authorities have yet to respond to the growing calls for accountability or to comment on whether the elections will go ahead as planned.
