Latest news with #DavidDosseh
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Togo groups say recent protests left 7 dead
LOME: At least seven people were killed and many others wounded during recent anti-government protests in the Togolese capital Lome, according to an initial count civic groups gave journalists Sunday. Campaigning groups and rights organisations denounced 'abuses committed by members of the Togolese security forces and militias', and said seven bodies had been recovered from rivers in the capital. They also reported 'dozens of wounded' and 'more than 60 arrests during the three days of demonstrations held from Thursday to Saturday. The Togolese authorities, who have yet to provide an official toll from the recent protests, on Sunday denied the deaths were linked to the unrest. 'Forensic analysis revealed that these deaths occurred as a result of drowning,' the government said in a statement, without commenting on the number of bodies recovered. 'I would like to congratulate our fellow citizens for their good behaviour and also the professionalism of our security forces, and above all, to reassure them that the government will take all necessary measures to protect Togolese citizens,' Hodabalo Awate, minister of territorial administration, said on state television Sunday evening. 'Unacceptable' Earlier, David Dosseh of 'Front Citoyen Togo Debout' told AFP that 'we are in a country where citizens still have the right to go out, to express themselves.' 'They should not face this state-imposed brutality, it is unacceptable,' he added. 'We are not animals, we are sons of this country, and as sons and citizens of this country, the Constitution gives us the right to express ourselves and to demonstrate peacefully.' Protests are rare in Togo, where President Faure Gnassingbe has maintained his grip on power since 2005, succeeding his father who ruled for nearly four decades. But on Thursday morning, small pockets of up to dozens of protesters blocked streets, burned tyres and wooden barricades in the capital, where many businesses remained closed. People have been protesting against a crackdown on critical voices, rising electricity prices and a constitutional reform that allowed Gnassingbe, now 59, to further consolidate his power. On June 5 and 6, police arrested about 50 protesters, mainly young people. Most have since been released but Amnesty International has denounced cases of alleged 'torture'. The government responded that it had not been officially informed of such abuses and condemned protesters' 'clear will to sow disorder and chaos'. In mid-June, Togo blocked France 24 television and Radio France Internationale for three months, accusing the outlets of having relayed 'inaccurate and biased statements' following the early June protests.
France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Togo groups say recent protests left 7 dead
Togo's Gendarmerie has so far only reported two deaths, from drowning Campaigning groups and rights organisations denounced "abuses committed by members of the Togolese security forces and militias", and said seven bodies had been recovered from rivers in the capital. They also reported "dozens of wounded" and "more than 60 arrests during the three days of demonstrations held from Thursday to Saturday. The Togolese authorities, who have yet to provide an official toll from the recent protests, on Sunday denied the deaths were linked to the unrest. "Forensic analysis revealed that these deaths occurred as a result of drowning," the government said in a statement, without commenting on the number of bodies recovered. "I would like to congratulate our fellow citizens for their good behaviour and also the professionalism of our security forces, and above all, to reassure them that the government will take all necessary measures to protect Togolese citizens," Hodabalo Awate, minister of territorial administration, said on state television Sunday evening. 'Unacceptable' Earlier, David Dosseh of "Front Citoyen Togo Debout" told AFP that "we are in a country where citizens still have the right to go out, to express themselves." "They should not face this state-imposed brutality, it is unacceptable," he added. "We are not animals, we are sons of this country, and as sons and citizens of this country, the Constitution gives us the right to express ourselves and to demonstrate peacefully." Protests are rare in Togo, where President Faure Gnassingbe has maintained his grip on power since 2005, succeeding his father who ruled for nearly four decades. But on Thursday morning, small pockets of up to dozens of protesters blocked streets, burned tyres and wooden barricades in the capital, where many businesses remained closed. People have been protesting against a crackdown on critical voices, rising electricity prices and a constitutional reform that allowed Gnassingbe, now 59, to further consolidate his power. On June 5 and 6, police arrested about 50 protesters, mainly young people. Most have since been released but Amnesty International has denounced cases of alleged "torture". The government responded that it had not been officially informed of such abuses and condemned protesters' "clear will to sow disorder and chaos". In mid-June, Togo blocked France 24 television and Radio France Internationale for three months, accusing the outlets of having relayed "inaccurate and biased statements" following the early June protests. © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Togo Groups Say Recent Protests Left 7 Dead
At least seven people were killed and many others wounded during recent anti-government protests in the Togolese capital Lome, according to an initial count civic groups gave journalists Sunday. Campaigning groups and rights organisations denounced "abuses committed by members of the Togolese security forces and militias", and said seven bodies had been recovered from rivers in the capital. They also reported "dozens of wounded" and "more than 60 arrests during the three days of demonstrations held from Thursday to Saturday. The Togolese authorities, who have yet to provide an official toll from the recent protests, on Sunday denied the deaths were linked to the unrest. "Forensic analysis revealed that these deaths occurred as a result of drowning," the government said in a statement, without commenting on the number of bodies recovered. "I would like to congratulate our fellow citizens for their good behaviour and also the professionalism of our security forces, and above all, to reassure them that the government will take all necessary measures to protect Togolese citizens," Hodabalo Awate, minister of territorial administration, said on state television Sunday evening. Earlier, David Dosseh of "Front Citoyen Togo Debout" told AFP that "we are in a country where citizens still have the right to go out, to express themselves." "They should not face this state-imposed brutality, it is unacceptable," he added. "We are not animals, we are sons of this country, and as sons and citizens of this country, the Constitution gives us the right to express ourselves and to demonstrate peacefully." Protests are rare in Togo, where President Faure Gnassingbe has maintained his grip on power since 2005, succeeding his father who ruled for nearly four decades. But on Thursday morning, small pockets of up to dozens of protesters blocked streets, burned tyres and wooden barricades in the capital, where many businesses remained closed. People have been protesting against a crackdown on critical voices, rising electricity prices and a constitutional reform that allowed Gnassingbe, now 59, to further consolidate his power. On June 5 and 6, police arrested about 50 protesters, mainly young people. Most have since been released but Amnesty International has denounced cases of alleged "torture". The government responded that it had not been officially informed of such abuses and condemned protesters' "clear will to sow disorder and chaos". In mid-June, Togo blocked France 24 television and Radio France Internationale for three months, accusing the outlets of having relayed "inaccurate and biased statements" following the early June protests.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Togo rocked by protests over reforms that could extend Gnassingbé's rule
LOME, Togo, June 28, (AP): Protesters and security forces clashed for a second straight day on Friday in Togo's capital Lomé over recent constitutional reforms that could cement President Faure Gnassingbé's long hold on power. Videos emerged showing apparent abuses by security forces. Police fired tear gas in several neighborhoods of Lomé and reportedly used batons to beat protesters, severely injuring some, according to footage that appears to be from the scene. Some videos showed what seem to be security units entering homes and assaulting residents with whips and clubs, while groups of men in plain clothes, believed to be auxiliary forces or self-defense units, patrolled parts of the capital with weapons in hand. "We strongly condemn the violence with which unarmed protesters have been met,' Professor David Dosseh, spokesman for a coalition of a dozen civil society groups, told The Associated Press. Internet access across the West African nation has been restricted, with social media platforms functioning intermittently. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27 and 28, after the government's clampdown on protests early this month. Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was sworn in in May as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has no official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by Parliament indefinitely. Gnassingbe's former job as national president, a position that is now mostly ceremonial, was given to politician Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de Tove after the announcement. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a "constitutional coup.' Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
3 days ago
- Politics
Togo rocked by protests over reforms that could extend President Gnassingbé's rule
LOME, Togo -- Protesters and security forces clashed for a second straight day on Friday in Togo's capital Lomé over recent constitutional reforms that could cement President Faure Gnassingbé's long hold on power. Videos emerged showing apparent abuses by security forces. Police fired tear gas in several neighborhoods of Lomé and reportedly used batons to beat protesters, severely injuring some, according to footage that appears to be from the scene. Some videos showed what seem to be security units entering homes and assaulting residents with whips and clubs, while groups of men in plain clothes, believed to be auxiliary forces or self-defense units, patrolled parts of the capital with weapons in hand. 'We strongly condemn the violence with which unarmed protesters have been met,' Professor David Dosseh, spokesman for a coalition of a dozen civil society groups, told The Associated Press. Internet access across the West African nation has been restricted, with social media platforms functioning intermittently. Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27 and 28, after the government's clampdown on protests early this month. Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was sworn in in May as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has no official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by Parliament indefinitely. Gnassingbe's former job as national president, a position that is now mostly ceremonial, was given to politician Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de Tove after the announcement. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a 'constitutional coup.' Demonstrations are rare in Togo because they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market.
