Togo: Anti-government protest planned in Lomé April 27 /update 1

Event

The “En Aucun Cas” (“In No Case”) civil society organization is calling for an anti-government protest in Lomé on Saturday, April 27. Supporters are being asked to gather at the GAKPOTO roundabout starting at 07:00 (local time). Protesters will then march through the streets to denounce the heavy security response to demonstrations organized by the opposition National Pan-African Party (PNP) on Saturday, April 13. While the leaders of “En Aucun Cas” have called for the march to remain peaceful, clashes between security forces and protesters cannot be ruled out. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are expected along the march route.

Context

The PNP held nationwide demonstrations on April 13, including in areas where the government did not authorize the events. In Bafilo, security forces killed one person and wounded another while forcefully dispersing the protesters. Both the PNP and “En Aucun Cas” have denounced the government’s decision to deploy soldiers in response to the demonstrations.

Political tensions remain high in Togo. Opposition leaders maintain that the government must comply with a list of previously agreed-upon demands, including a return to the 1992 constitution as well as a referendum on constitutional amendments to reform the electoral system. Opposition groups are accusing the government of blocking the implementation of a road map outlined by the regional organization ECOWAS to end the ongoing political crisis

Advice

Individuals in Lomé are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests as a precaution, anticipate a heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions, and refrain from discussing domestic political issues in public.