Anger over President’s alleged power-grab

Soldiers in Togo have been used to dispersing hundreds of protesters who took to the streets to denounce a power grab by longtime leader Faure Gnassingbé and demand his resignation, reports RFI. The gatherings were organised by bloggers and activists and highlighted persisting political strife in Togo. Last month, Gnassingbé was given a powerful new role: President of the Council of Ministers, which has no fixed term limit. Gnassingbé's family has ruled the West African nation since 1967. He himself has previously served for two decades as President, and opposition parties have described his new appointment as a ‘constitutional coup’ that could extend his rule for life. Togolese authorities had already arrested dozens of people on 5 and 6 June during protests against Gnassingbé's new role as well as what critics described as a crackdown on dissent and a cost-of-living crisis, according to Amnesty International. Many were quickly released, the rights group said. Last week, Togo's authorities also suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, accusing the media of a lack of impartiality and rigour. Camille Montagu, from the independent organisation Reporters Without Borders Sub-Saharan Africa Desk said that the decision ‘constitutes a serious attack on press freedom and the right to information". The move to censor foreign media outlets is seen by Gnassingbé's critics as another part of his ‘constitutional coup’.

Full RFI report