Togolese rapper Aameron has issued a public apology to President Faure Gnassingbé and the Togolese state following his arrest late last month for allegedly making insulting remarks about government authorities. In a video released from a psychiatric hospital in Lomé, Aameron acknowledged breaking national laws and accepted the legal process taken against him.
The artist was arrested overnight between May 26 and 27 by Togolese security forces for social media posts and lyrics deemed offensive to public officials. His subsequent detention and transfer to a mental health facility have drawn criticism from his family, human rights advocates, and members of Togo’s artistic community. Opposition figures and civil society groups argue that his psychiatric placement is a form of political repression. They claim it violates his rights and is intended to intimidate outspoken critics of the regime.
A protest demanding Aameron’s release is scheduled to take place in Lomé on Friday. Organizers say the demonstration is not only in defense of artistic freedom but also a broader call for respect for human rights and freedom of expression in Togo.
