Latest news with #youthMovements
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
'He Just Wanted to Play Football': A Family Mourns a 15-Year-Old as Togo Cracks Down on Protests
The family courtyard where Jacques Koami Koutoglo used to play soccer with his cousins in a working-class neighborhood in Togo's capital now sits silent. The ball he once kicked around lies deflated beside a bundle of firewood. 'Jacques died for Togo,' his uncle, Koutoglo Kossi Mawuli, said quietly, eyes heavy with grief. 'The 15-year-old is one of several people who died during mass protests in the West African nation against constitutional changes that many fear will cement President Faure Gnassingbé's grip on power–and lengthen a ruling dynasty that has lasted over half a century.' The 59-year-old Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after his father's death, was sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers in May. The executive body was created last year with little notice by a parliament whose term had just expired, and Gnassingbé swiftly signed off on the constitutional change despite public outcry. The new role has no term limits, and Gnassingbé can stay on indefinitely. Local civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests last month after the government announced a clampdown on demonstrations. Many young Togolese are drawing inspiration from recent uprisings across West Africa, where youth movements challenged entrenched regimes. Koutoglo had just completed secondary school and was eagerly waiting for exam results. He had dreams of becoming a soccer player and spent evenings practicing his moves. He often helped at his uncle's cafeteria during school breaks. On the morning of June 26, the day of the protests, he vanished. 'Since our family compound is large and full of cousins, we assumed he was with someone else,' Mawuli said. 'But when evening came and the boy hadn't returned, unease turned into panic.' The next day, a fisherman discovered a body floating in the lagoon a hundred meters (yards) from their home. The family rushed to the scene. It was Koutoglo. His face was bruised, and blood had streamed from his nose. 'He didn't go to any rally,' Mawuli said. 'He must have panicked when he heard the tear gas and gunshots. He got caught up in the chaos.' Civil society groups say at least five people, including Koutoglo, died during the demonstrations, and dozens were injured. They accuse security forces of making arbitrary arrests, assaulting civilians with batons and ropes, and looting or vandalizing private property. In Koutoglo's neighborhood of Bè, a densely populated and historically restive part of Lomé, witnesses described security forces chasing down youth, even into private homes. 'They came into our courtyard. They fired gas. They beat people,' said a neighbor who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Koutoglo was buried swiftly, in line with local customs for those who die violently. The other victims were taken to the morgue. Koutoglo's uncle said the family intends to press charges and demand an independent investigation into his nephew's death. 'You can't just beat our children to death and expect us to be silent. We are tired,' he said. Civil society groups said the justice system has made no arrests and has not requested an autopsy. 'These acts marked by unspeakable cruelty amount to a state crime. The perpetrators struck without restraint and killed without distinction,' they said in a statement. In a statement read out on state television, Togo's government acknowledged that bodies were recovered from the Bè lagoon and the Akodessewa lake, but said the victims died from drowning. The government said there would be a further investigation. Across Togo, Koutoglo's name has joined a long list of young lives cut short during moments of national tension. 'This is not the first time,' Mawuli said. 'Back in 2017, children died, too. It's like nothing ever changes. But this time, we refuse to stay quiet.' In 2017 and 2018, mass protests challenged President Faure Gnassingbé's long rule. A government crackdown left at least 16 dead, including teenagers. To those still protesting, Mawuli sent a message of solidarity: 'Don't give up. This fight is for our children. For Jacques. For all of us.' New protests are planned for July 16 and 17. Fabien Offner, a researcher with Amnesty International, said Togo has a repressive architecture that has normalized arbitrary arrests, beatings, and impunity. 'They're routine now,' he said. 'And the lack of global reaction only deepens the crisis.' Government spokesman Gilbert Bawara defended the state's approach. He told reporters the recent constitutional changes followed proper procedures and dismissed allegations of systemic abuse. 'If there are grievances, let them be addressed through lawful channels,' he said. But with opposition figures sidelined, institutions dominated by the ruling party, and elections widely seen as flawed, critics say these channels offer little hope.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
He just wanted to play football: A family mourns a 15-year-old as Togo cracks down on protests
LOME: The family courtyard where Jacques Koami Koutoglo used to play football with his cousins in a working-class neighborhood in Togo 's capital now sits silent. The ball he once kicked around lies deflated beside a bundle of firewood. 'Jacques died for Togo,' his uncle, Koutoglo Kossi Mawuli, said quietly, eyes heavy with grief. The 15-year-old is one of several people who died during mass protests in the West African nation against constitutional changes that many fear will cement President Faure Gnassingbé's grip on power — and lengthen a ruling dynasty that has lasted over half a century. The 59-year-old Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after his father's death, was sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers in May. The executive body was created last year with little notice by a parliament whose term had just expired, and Gnassingbé swiftly signed off on the constitutional change despite public outcry. The new role has no term limits, and Gnassingbé can stay on indefinitely. Local civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests last month after the government announced a clampdown on demonstrations. Many young Togolese are drawing inspiration from recent uprisings across West Africa, where youth movements challenged entrenched regimes. Koutoglo had just completed secondary school and was eagerly waiting for exam results. He had dreams of becoming a footballer and spent evenings practicing his moves. He often helped at his uncle's cafeteria during school breaks. On the morning of June 26, the day of the protests, he vanished. 'Since our family compound is large and full of cousins, we assumed he was with someone else,' Mawuli said. But when evening came and the boy hadn't returned, unease turned into panic. The next day, a fisherman discovered a body floating in the lagoon a hundred meters (yards) from their home. The family rushed to the scene. It was Koutoglo. His face was bruised, and blood had streamed from his nose. 'He didn't go to any rally,' Mawuli said. 'He must have panicked when he heard the tear gas and gunshots. He got caught up in the chaos.' Civil society groups say at least five people, including Koutoglo, died during the demonstrations and dozens were injured, and accuse security forces of making arbitrary arrests, assaulting civilians with batons and ropes, and looting or vandalizing private property. In Koutoglo's neighborhood of Bè, a densely populated and historically restive part of Lomé, witnesses described security forces chasing down youth, even into private homes. 'They came into our courtyard. They fired gas. They beat people,' said a neighbor who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Koutoglo was buried swiftly, in line with local customs for those who die violently. The other victims were taken to the morgue. Koutoglo's uncle said the family intends to press charges and demand an independent investigation into his nephew's death. 'You can't just beat our children to death and expect us to be silent. We are tired,' he said. Civil society groups said the justice system has made no arrests and has not requested an autopsy. 'These acts, marked by unspeakable cruelty, amount to a state crime. The perpetrators struck without restraint and killed without distinction,' they said in a statement. In a statement read out on state television, Togo's government acknowledged that bodies were recovered from the Bè lagoon and the Akodessewa lake but said the victims died from drowning. The government said there would be a further investigation. Across Togo, Koutoglo's name has joined a long list of young lives cut short during moments of national tension. 'This is not the first time,' Mawuli said. 'Back in 2017, children died too. It's like nothing ever changes. But this time, we refuse to stay quiet.' In 2017 and 2018, mass protests challenged President Faure Gnassingbé's long rule. A government crackdown left at least 16 dead, including teenagers. To those still protesting, Mawuli sent a message of solidarity: 'Don't give up. This fight is for our children. For Jacques. For all of us.' New protests are planned for July 16 and 17. Fabien Offner, a researcher with Amnesty International, said Togo has a 'repressive architecture' that has normalized arbitrary arrests, beatings and impunity. 'They're routine now,' he said. 'And the lack of global reaction only deepens the crisis.' Government spokesman Gilbert Bawara defended the state's approach. He told reporters the recent constitutional changes followed proper procedures, and dismissed allegations of systemic abuse. 'If there are grievances, let them be addressed through lawful channels,' he said. But with opposition figures sidelined, institutions dominated by the ruling party and elections widely seen as flawed, critics say these channels offer little hope.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
'He just wanted to play football': A family mourns a 15-year-old as Togo cracks down on protests
The family courtyard where Jacques Koami Koutoglo used to play football with his cousins in a working-class neighborhood in Togo 's capital now sits silent. The ball he once kicked around lies deflated beside a bundle of firewood. 'Jacques died for Togo," his uncle, Koutoglo Kossi Mawuli, said quietly, eyes heavy with grief. The 15-year-old is one of several people who died during mass protests in the West African nation against constitutional changes that many fear will cement President Faure Gnassingbé's grip on power — and lengthen a ruling dynasty that has lasted over half a century. The 59-year-old Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after his father's death, was sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers in May. The executive body was created last year with little notice by a parliament whose term had just expired, and Gnassingbé swiftly signed off on the constitutional change despite public outcry. The new role has no term limits, and Gnassingbé can stay on indefinitely. Local civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests last month after the government announced a clampdown on demonstrations. Many young Togolese are drawing inspiration from recent uprisings across West Africa, where youth movements challenged entrenched regimes. Koutoglo had just completed secondary school and was eagerly waiting for exam results. He had dreams of becoming a footballer and spent evenings practicing his moves. He often helped at his uncle's cafeteria during school breaks. On the morning of June 26, the day of the protests, he vanished. 'Since our family compound is large and full of cousins, we assumed he was with someone else," Mawuli said. But when evening came and the boy hadn't returned, unease turned into panic. The next day, a fisherman discovered a body floating in the lagoon a hundred meters (yards) from their home. The family rushed to the scene. It was Koutoglo. His face was bruised, and blood had streamed from his nose. "He didn't go to any rally,' Mawuli said. 'He must have panicked when he heard the tear gas and gunshots. He got caught up in the chaos.' Civil society groups say at least five people, including Koutoglo, died during the demonstrations and dozens were injured, and accuse security forces of making arbitrary arrests, assaulting civilians with batons and ropes, and looting or vandalizing private property. In Koutoglo's neighborhood of Bè, a densely populated and historically restive part of Lomé, witnesses described security forces chasing down youth, even into private homes. 'They came into our courtyard. They fired gas. They beat people,' said a neighbor who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Koutoglo was buried swiftly, in line with local customs for those who die violently. The other victims were taken to the morgue. Koutoglo's uncle said the family intends to press charges and demand an independent investigation into his nephew's death. 'You can't just beat our children to death and expect us to be silent. We are tired," he said. Civil society groups said the justice system has made no arrests and has not requested an autopsy. "These acts, marked by unspeakable cruelty, amount to a state crime. The perpetrators struck without restraint and killed without distinction,' they said in a statement. In a statement read out on state television, Togo's government acknowledged that bodies were recovered from the Bè lagoon and the Akodessewa lake but said the victims died from drowning. The government said there would be a further investigation. Across Togo, Koutoglo's name has joined a long list of young lives cut short during moments of national tension. 'This is not the first time,' Mawuli said. 'Back in 2017, children died too. It's like nothing ever changes. But this time, we refuse to stay quiet.' In 2017 and 2018, mass protests challenged President Faure Gnassingbé's long rule. A government crackdown left at least 16 dead, including teenagers. To those still protesting, Mawuli sent a message of solidarity: 'Don't give up. This fight is for our children. For Jacques. For all of us.' New protests are planned for July 16 and 17. Fabien Offner, a researcher with Amnesty International, said Togo has a 'repressive architecture' that has normalized arbitrary arrests, beatings and impunity. "They're routine now,' he said. 'And the lack of global reaction only deepens the crisis.' Government spokesman Gilbert Bawara defended the state's approach. He told reporters the recent constitutional changes followed proper procedures, and dismissed allegations of systemic abuse. 'If there are grievances, let them be addressed through lawful channels,' he said. But with opposition figures sidelined, institutions dominated by the ruling party and elections widely seen as flawed, critics say these channels offer little hope.
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
'He just wanted to play football': A family mourns a 15-year-old as Togo cracks down on protests
LOME, Togo (AP) — The family courtyard where Jacques Koami Koutoglo used to play football with his cousins in a working-class neighborhood in Togo 's capital now sits silent. The ball he once kicked around lies deflated beside a bundle of firewood. 'Jacques died for Togo,' his uncle, Koutoglo Kossi Mawuli, said quietly, eyes heavy with grief. The 15-year-old is one of several people who died during mass protests in the West African nation against constitutional changes that many fear will cement President Faure Gnassingbé's grip on power — and lengthen a ruling dynasty that has lasted over half a century. The 59-year-old Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after his father's death, was sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers in May. The executive body was created last year with little notice by a parliament whose term had just expired, and Gnassingbé swiftly signed off on the constitutional change despite public outcry. The new role has no term limits, and Gnassingbé can stay on indefinitely. Local civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests last month after the government announced a clampdown on demonstrations. Many young Togolese are drawing inspiration from recent uprisings across West Africa, where youth movements challenged entrenched regimes. Koutoglo had just completed secondary school and was eagerly waiting for exam results. He had dreams of becoming a footballer and spent evenings practicing his moves. He often helped at his uncle's cafeteria during school breaks. On the morning of June 26, the day of the protests, he vanished. 'Since our family compound is large and full of cousins, we assumed he was with someone else,' Mawuli said. But when evening came and the boy hadn't returned, unease turned into panic. The next day, a fisherman discovered a body floating in the lagoon a hundred meters (yards) from their home. The family rushed to the scene. It was Koutoglo. His face was bruised, and blood had streamed from his nose. 'He didn't go to any rally,' Mawuli said. 'He must have panicked when he heard the tear gas and gunshots. He got caught up in the chaos.' Civil society groups say at least five people, including Koutoglo, died during the demonstrations and dozens were injured, and accuse security forces of making arbitrary arrests, assaulting civilians with batons and ropes, and looting or vandalizing private property. In Koutoglo's neighborhood of Bè, a densely populated and historically restive part of Lomé, witnesses described security forces chasing down youth, even into private homes. 'They came into our courtyard. They fired gas. They beat people,' said a neighbor who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Koutoglo was buried swiftly, in line with local customs for those who die violently. The other victims were taken to the morgue. Koutoglo's uncle said the family intends to press charges and demand an independent investigation into his nephew's death. 'You can't just beat our children to death and expect us to be silent. We are tired,' he said. Civil society groups said the justice system has made no arrests and has not requested an autopsy. 'These acts, marked by unspeakable cruelty, amount to a state crime. The perpetrators struck without restraint and killed without distinction,' they said in a statement. In a statement read out on state television, Togo's government acknowledged that bodies were recovered from the Bè lagoon and the Akodessewa lake but said the victims died from drowning. The government said there would be a further investigation. Across Togo, Koutoglo's name has joined a long list of young lives cut short during moments of national tension. 'This is not the first time,' Mawuli said. 'Back in 2017, children died too. It's like nothing ever changes. But this time, we refuse to stay quiet.' In 2017 and 2018, mass protests challenged President Faure Gnassingbé's long rule. A government crackdown left at least 16 dead, including teenagers. To those still protesting, Mawuli sent a message of solidarity: 'Don't give up. This fight is for our children. For Jacques. For all of us.' New protests are planned for July 16 and 17. Fabien Offner, a researcher with Amnesty International, said Togo has a 'repressive architecture' that has normalized arbitrary arrests, beatings and impunity. 'They're routine now,' he said. 'And the lack of global reaction only deepens the crisis.' Government spokesman Gilbert Bawara defended the state's approach. He told reporters the recent constitutional changes followed proper procedures, and dismissed allegations of systemic abuse. 'If there are grievances, let them be addressed through lawful channels,' he said. But with opposition figures sidelined, institutions dominated by the ruling party and elections widely seen as flawed, critics say these channels offer little hope.
Mail & Guardian
16-06-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Harness the potential of the continent's demographic dividend
Creating a school-to-work pipeline through partnerships between education institutions and business, backed by policy, can boost employment. Africa is home to the largest youth population in the world. More than 60% of Africa's population is under the age of 25, equivalent to more than 800 million young people. This number is expected to grow and, by 2050, more than a third of the world's young people (aged 15 to 24) will live in Africa, according to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2022. Africa's 'youth bulge' presents an opportunity: if properly harnessed, this demographic dividend could drive economic growth, entrepreneurship and innovation, expanded consumer markets, and rapid urban development. But reaping these benefits is only possible if the right investments and policies are made, particularly in education and skills training, infrastructure, and governance. Today, Africa stands at a crossroads. According to the African Development Bank, nearly 420 million youth aged 15 to 35 are unemployed and discouraged, and another third are vulnerably employed. Only one in six hold formal wage jobs. Many are stuck in vulnerable or insecure informal employment with limited prospects for upward mobility. The consequences of inaction are already visible from youth-led movements such as #EndSARS in Nigeria, which evolved into protests against economic mismanagement and corruption, to anti-corruption protests in Uganda. With more than 670 million mobile phones in circulation — equivalent to one for every second person on the continent — the ability to connect, mobilise, and organise is unparalleled, increasing the pressure on governments to deliver or risk growing instability. The issue of youth unemployment is now one of the most pressing issues facing African leaders. If left unaddressed, it threatens to entrench cycles of intergenerational poverty, drive civil unrest and, in some contexts, create conditions that extremists can exploit. But there is a growing awareness that the tide can be turned through targeted, forward-looking policies. Some African countries are taking charge with targeted policies and programmes aimed at promoting youth employment. For example, the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme provides a win-win opportunity for host organisations by accruing zero recruitment costs to provide a 12-month placement and by cutting lead time on resources spent recruiting entry-level jobs while also supporting fresh graduates by connecting them to work opportunities. This enables them to translate theoretical knowledge gained in college into transferrable skills required by the labour market. Such programmes also help level the playing field, particularly in countries as competitive as Nigeria, which has more than 600,000 graduates from university each year, and where opportunities often favour individuals with greater access — through social or political networks — including those who can cover the financial cost of experiential learning (given that most internships are unpaid). Such programmes represent a blueprint that can be replicated in countries with a vibrant private sector such as Kenya and South Africa. In Rwanda, technical and vocational education and training reforms aim to institutionalise a coordinated approach to addressing the mismatch between education and market demands by co-developing curriculum with industry inputs, mandating internships and apprenticeships in private firms and setting up mechanisms for tracking graduate employment outcomes. This has resulted in 67% of graduates being employed within six months, according to the Rwanda Workforce Development Authority in 2019. In other countries, investments in expanding access to primary and secondary education by eliminating tuition fees or providing cash incentives to families for sustained enrollment have made a difference. Kenya, Malawi and Uganda saw significant increases in school enrollment after eliminating tuition fees for primary and secondary education. These efforts support a solid literacy and numeracy base necessary for future workforce readiness. Another promising initiative is Kenya's Ajira Digital programme, which was developed in partnership with the government, private sector (Master Card) and learning institutions to train youth in digital freelancing skills and connect them to employment opportunities. Since its launch, the programme has supported more than a million youth to be trained, mentored and earn income in the gig economy. According to Current policies and institutions in Africa need to be more strategically aligned to balance the immediate needs of a largely agrarian or self-employed workforce against the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy that increasingly values digital and managerial skills. This requires stronger partnerships between education and training institutions and the private sector, supported by policymakers who create incentives and frameworks to reinforce these linkages in the school-to-work pipeline. Simultaneously, governments must support informal workers, who make up the largest portion of Africa's workforce, through social protection programmes and pathways to formalisation. These should include access to finance and credit, simplified business registration platforms and tax incentives for micro and small enterprises to gradually bring them into the formal sector. Africa's youth represent its greatest asset. If governments, civil society, education institutions and the private sector can work together to ensure access to quality education, relevant training, and decent employment opportunities, the continent could unlock a wave of innovation, prosperity, and stability. But if this window of opportunity is missed, the consequences could be severe, not just for Africa, but for the world. Jean-Luc Stalon is the resident representative at the United Nations Development Programme based in the Central African Republic.
