Widespread youth-led protests erupted across Togo on Thursday, June 26, amid escalating political tensions over President Faure Gnassingbé’s 20-year rule. The demonstrations—set to continue through Saturday—were organized via social media and have attracted support from seven opposition parties and several civil society organizations. Protesters are demanding Gnassingbé’s resignation and denouncing what they describe as worsening governance failures, human rights violations, and the systematic suppression of press and civic freedoms. The president, who inherited power in 2005 after the death of his father, has faced growing criticism for extending the Gnassingbé family’s five-decade grip on power.
Authorities have declared the protests illegal and warned that any unauthorized gatherings would face security crackdowns. Nevertheless, youth leaders and activists say they are determined to press forward, citing years of political marginalization, high unemployment, and the controversial adoption of a new constitution earlier this year, which critics argue paves the way for further presidential entrenchment. Observers are watching closely to see how the government responds to the unrest, which could mark a turning point in Togo’s simmering political crisis.
