Togo has now fixed April 29 as the date for legislative elections after initially delaying the polls over a controversial constitutional reform, according to a government statement issued on Tuesday.
Elections were initially scheduled for April 20 but were then abruptly called off by the government claiming consultations were required to carry out the constitutional reforms. A move the opposition viewed as a plan by President Gnassingbe to extend his rule.
The announcement came after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday and just days before opposition parties had stepped up plans to organise protests over the ballot delay.
They insist the protest will continue despite the government denying them a permit to stage protests.
The opposition National Alliance for Change (ANC) and other parties are demanding that the government steps down the planned constitutional reform in its entirety.
The new bill will empower the National Assembly to directly choose the President instead of an election.
Tensions continue to mount in the West African country as security officials recently dispersed a recent opposition press conference.
