Togo Holds Pivotal Municipal Elections Amid Mounting Political Tensions

Lome ,Togo , July 17, 2025 Togo is holding municipal elections today, its first since a sweeping constitutional overhaul in 2024 that significantly reshaped the West African nation’s political structure and positioned longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe to extend his grip on power indefinitely.

More than three million registered voters are expected to elect representatives for the country’s 117 municipalities in a vote widely viewed as a barometer of public sentiment toward Gnassingbe’s administration. Although the president himself is not on the ballot, the stakes are high amid intensifying political unrest and opposition led protests.

In recent weeks, violent demonstrations have erupted across Togo, culminating in widespread anti-government protests on July 16 and 17. The protests follow Gnassingbe’s appointment in May as President of the Council of Ministers a newly established role created through a controversial constitutional reform. The position carries sweeping executive authority but has no term limits.

Critics say the May 2024 constitutional changes marked a dramatic shift in Togo’s governance structure, transitioning the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system. While the presidency was stripped of most executive powers and relegated to a largely ceremonial role with a two term limit, power was simultaneously consolidated under the President of the Council of Ministers now held by Gnassingbe.

Opposition groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change, condemned the move as a « constitutional coup » in a joint statement. Nathaniel Olympio, spokesperson for the civil society coalition Don’t Touch My Constitution, called the reform a backdoor maneuver to entrench authoritarian rule.

« What appeared to be democratic progress quickly revealed itself to be a calculated consolidation of power, » Olympio said.
Togo’s National Assembly has defended Gnassingbe’s appointment, stating that as leader of the majority party, he rightfully assumed the role under the new parliamentary framework.

President Faure Gnassingbe, 59, has ruled Togo since 2005, following the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who seized power in a 1967 military coup and ruled for 38 years. With the recent reforms, critics argue that the dynasty’s control may now extend indefinitely.

The municipal elections are proceeding under tight security amid fears of further unrest. Observers say the outcome and voter turnout could offer rare insight into the political mood in a country increasingly polarized by the controversial reforms. Emebet Asefa correspondent