Togo: Proposed Constitutional Changes Draw Fear of Dictatorship

Voters in Togo cast their ballots in parliamentary elections amid concerns over a proposed new constitution that would abolish presidential elections and grant lawmakers the power to choose the president.

In the West African nation of Togo, where the same family has held power for nearly six decades, citizens are expressing apprehension over a proposed constitutional amendment that would fundamentally alter the country's political system. The amendment, which was passed by lawmakers in March, would abolish future presidential elections and empower the legislature to select the president, raising fears of a prolonged authoritarian rule under current President Faure Gnassingbe.

Gnassingbe, who has been in office since 2005, has faced accusations of electoral fraud and suppression of dissent. The opposition and religious leaders have decried the proposed constitutional changes as an attempt by the president to cling to power beyond the expiration of his mandate in 2025.

Ahead of the parliamentary elections on Monday, which were seen as a test of support for the proposed constitutional changes, authorities engaged in a crackdown on civic and media freedoms. Protests against the constitutional amendment were prohibited, opposition figures were arrested, and the Catholic Church was barred from deploying election observers.

In mid-April, a French journalist who traveled to Togo to cover the elections was detained, mistreated, and deported. The incident prompted Togo's media regulator to suspend the accreditation process for foreign journalists.

Amidst these concerns, opposition party candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre expressed his apprehensions about the low voter turnout and the fairness of the electoral process. "We are participating in these elections because we have no alternative," he told The Associated Press.

Despite the atmosphere of unease, approximately 4.2 million Togolese registered to vote in the elections, which were set to fill 113 parliamentary seats and 179 senatorial positions for the first time. Preliminary results were anticipated within six days.

Togolese authorities implemented strict security measures for the elections, closing borders and deploying over 12,000 gendarmes and police officers to safeguard the voting process. Concerns were also raised about the spread of disinformation during the elections, and authorities issued warnings against the dissemination of false results or misleading information.

One voter, Kpedji Kossi Nicabou Sena, expressed his motivation for voting out of his concerns about the proposed constitutional changes. "This year's vote is a crucial vote, it's a vote that can make a difference for my country," he stated.

Another citizen who traveled from abroad to cast his ballot echoed these sentiments: "We don't know the consequences of the new constitution that's coming." The fate of Togo's political future hangs in the balance as the nation awaits the outcome of the parliamentary elections and the looming constitutional referendum. Amidst concerns of dictatorship and the suppression of democratic freedoms, the country faces a pivotal moment in its history.