By Achadu Gabriel, Nigeria
At least seven people have been confirmed dead and over 60 arrested following a violent crackdown by Togolese security forces on anti-government protesters in Lomé, the capital of Togo.
The protests were sparked by growing opposition to constitutional reforms that could allow President Faure Gnassingbé to remain in power indefinitely. According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), demonstrations took place from June 26 to 28 in several neighborhoods across Lomé, despite a government ban.
In a statement shared with African journalists on Wednesday, the MFWA expressed deep concern over what it described as “violent repression of peaceful demonstrators” amid a tense political climate marked by the controversial adoption of a new constitution.
The protests were organized by opposition groups, civil society organizations, and cyber activists who accuse the government of orchestrating a power grab. The MFWA said the June demonstrations followed earlier protests on June 5 and 6, which were similarly met with arrests and the use of force.
“Despite declaring the protests illegal, the government failed to provide legal justification for the arrests of many demonstrators and bystanders,” the Foundation stated. “Security forces, reportedly aided by plainclothes militia, used excessive force, including live ammunition, to disperse crowds.”
Among the victims were two brothers, aged 22 and 25, who were found dead in Fourth Lake, Akodessewa, on June 27, after going missing the previous night. That same day, three more bodies were recovered from the Bè Lagoon, including a 16-year-old boy who had just passed his junior secondary school exams and a public latrine attendant reportedly shot while helping a wounded child. Two additional bodies were found on June 28 in the Nyekonakpoé Lagoon, bringing the death toll to seven.
Eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports indicated injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
The government, however, denied any wrongdoing. Authorities accused “foreign-based actors” of inciting unrest through disinformation and declared that public order had been “professionally restored.” Officials dismissed reports of excessive force and fatalities as politically motivated fabrications and vowed to prosecute protest organizers, including those living abroad.
The MFWA condemned these actions, describing them as part of a broader pattern of repression.
“Since 2022, public demonstrations in Togo have been tightly restricted. Freedom of expression and assembly have been severely curtailed, with opposition parties and independent civil society groups increasingly suppressed,” the Foundation noted.
The MFWA also recalled that during the June 5–6 protests, nearly 80 people were arrested and journalists were either detained or barred from covering the events.
“This latest violence reflects not only an escalating political crisis but also a pattern of governance based on fear, repression, and impunity,” the group warned.
Former Minister of the Armed Forces, Essossimna Marguerite Gnakade, joined voices condemning the crackdown.
“I strongly condemn the violent repression of Togolese citizens who were peacefully protesting—unarmed—for better living conditions and greater freedom,” she said. “As a former Minister of the Armed Forces, I call on the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) to recognize the gravity of the situation and act with responsibility.”
Calling for accountability, MFWA urged Togolese authorities to conduct a transparent, independent investigation into the deaths and reported abuses.
“We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families who deserve both justice and answers. The state must ensure that these grave human rights violations do not go unpunished. Upholding the rights of Togolese citizens is essential to restoring public trust and lasting peace,” the statement concluded.
