Hundreds of protesters gathered in Vogan, southern Togo, at the weekend to demand a return to the constitution that was in place before the 2024 reforms, which opposition parties and civil society groups say have allowed President Faure Gnassingbé to further consolidate power.
The demonstration, organised by the National Consultation Framework for Change in Togo (CNCC), a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups, was the second major rally in three months focused on the controversial constitutional changes. Chants of “We want change” and “We want democracy” echoed through the town as protesters carried banners denouncing the 2024 constitution.
David Dosseh, a spokesperson for the Citizens’ Front Togo Standing (FCTD), one of the organising groups, told Africanews that the constitutional change adopted in 2024 is “completely illegal” and described it as a “constitutional coup d’état”. Supporters in the crowd, including activist Dossêvi Adakanou, said they want a return to the former constitution that was in place before it was amended.
The 2024 reforms replaced direct presidential elections with a parliamentary system, making the head of state the “president of the council of ministers” and shifting the centre of power away from the presidency. Gnassingbé, who has been in power since 2005, now holds this new top post, which critics argue entrenches his rule and weakens electoral accountability.
Last month, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that the 2024 constitutional reform contravenes democratic principles, a decision that has emboldened opposition groups even as the Togolese government has dismissed the ruling. Protesters cite the court’s decision as further evidence that the changes are illegitimate and should be reversed.
The latest rally follows a series of protests in 2025 that, according to civil society groups, left seven people dead. Authorities have previously cracked down on demonstrations, and public gatherings by the opposition remain tightly controlled.
Opposition leaders say they will continue to press for a return to the previous constitutional order and for broader democratic reforms, including term limits and stronger electoral safeguards.
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