Protests erupted in June after the arrest of popular rapper and activist Aamron, who called for demonstrations on Gnassingbé’s birthday. The unrest, driven by opposition to the so-called “constitutional coup,” resulted in seven deaths. Rights groups blame police for the fatalities, with the bodies of marchers later recovered from rivers in Lomé.

Voters cited fear of both protesters and security forces. “People are afraid of being attacked… or dispersed by police,” one resident told the Associated Press. Others questioned the value of voting in a system where results appear fixed: “They feel it’s pointless to vote because the results are always the same.”

Togo’s streets were quiet on election day, but the atmosphere remained tense. Heavily armed police and military units were stationed at key intersections across the capital.

Controversial Reforms Undermine Democratic Norms

The elections were the first since the April passage of constitutional reforms by Gnassingbé’s UNIR party-dominated parliament. The changes abolish the presidential system and install Gnassingbé as head of the Council of Ministers—a role with no term limits—effectively enabling indefinite reelection.

Public protests have been banned since 2017–2018, when anti-Gnassingbé demonstrations erupted under the slogans “Faure Must Go” and “Togo Stands Up.” Critics say Togo, although nominally a democracy, functions as a militarized state with the army entrenched in politics.

Opposition leaders, diaspora groups, and civil society influencers urged a boycott of the vote, calling it a ploy to legitimize authoritarian rule. The continuing economic hardship, unemployment, and political repression have further deepened discontent among the population, particularly the youth.