US EditionTogo Votes in Local Elections Amid Outburst of Public Anger: What to Know
TOGO, JUL 15 – Municipal elections proceed amid protests against President Faure Gnassingbe's lifetime rule, with 3 million voters expected and rights groups reporting at least seven protest deaths.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Togo holds first local elections since controversial power shift
Voters are expected to elect leaders of the country's 117 municipalities. President Faure Gnassingbe, 59, is not formally on the ballot himself, yet the poll will be a test of Gnassingbe's popularity with calls to widespread anti-government protests on July 16 and 17.
In Togo, the youth for democracy and justice are taking to the streets, and the Gnassingbé family, which has been ruling for 57 years, brutally crushes the protests.
After the murderous repression of the demonstrations in June, and while new mobilizations are planned on Wednesday and Thursday, voices rise to ask France to suspend its military cooperation with Lomé. Since 1963, Paris has been forming the Togolese army.
Following repressed demonstrations, a "Movement of June 6" was launched. Connected, away from traditional parties and led by artists and activists, he said he was determined to "liberate" the country and called for further days of mobilization on July 16 and 17.
The Togolese people voted on Thursday 17 July for municipal elections. A test for the government, targeted since the beginning of June by demonstrations.
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