Togo: Constitutional Court confirms presidential election results March 3 /update 5

Event

The Constitutional Court in Togo confirmed on Tuesday, March 3, that incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé won the February 22 presidential elections. According to the court ruling, Gnassingbé secured over 70 percent of the vote while opposition challenger Agbeyome Kodjo won 19 percent. Kodjo has previously filed a petition challenging the serious irregularities in voting and claiming that he had won the election. However, the court dismissed the petition, stating that it “lacked evidence likely to support the allegations.”

Political rallies and gatherings are possible in the coming days and weeks in response to the election results. A heightened security presence is also possible in areas with opposition support.

Context

The electoral commission barred both the Catholic Church and the National Consultation of Civil Society of Togo from observing the election.

Gnassingbé has led Togo since 2005. In May 2019, parliament passed a law capping the presidential mandate to two five-year terms. However, the law was not backdated, allowing President Gnassingbé to potentially stay in office until 2030. 

Advice

Individuals in Togo are advised to keep abreast of the situation, avoid all potential protests and demonstrations as a precaution, avoid discussing sensitive political topics in public, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.