Source : Sahel weather Novembre 2024 

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In Togo, the transition from a presidential to a parliamentary regime has sharply divided the political class, exasperating the political tensions that led the opposition to boycott the 2018 legislative elections. These contested legislative elections, followed by a wave of protests organized by the C14 (Coalition of 14 opposition parties), resulted in arrests for “disturbing public order” and “attempting to undermine state security”.

These arrests, together with the restriction of Togo's political space, have prompted some human rights activists to warn that democratic gains are being rolled back in the country. Moreover, most of the demonstrators arrested during these popular protests have been in prison for nearly 6 years without trial, and the state of health of one of them is worrying, according to the Association of Victims of Torture in Togo (Asvitto). For some time now, the case of these “political detainees” has been mobilizing various players in the country and internationally for their release. In addition, the change of political regime introduced by the government at the beginning of the year, from a presidential to a parliamentary system, has once again divided the Togolese political scene. Part of the opposition and civil society consider this change, which was not adopted by referendum but rather by parliament, as a constitutional coup d'état. This tense political context, with its economic challenges, followed by a youthful quest for better living conditions and a security situation in the north of the country with recurrent jihadist incursions, places Togo at a crossroads, even if the government is taking “major decisions” with decentralization policies aimed at “bringing decision-making bodies closer to local populations”.