Togolese civil society urges sanctions against constitutional manipulation

The political crisis in Togo has escalated to international levels. A coalition of 43 civil society organizations from Africa and the diaspora has issued a joint open letter demanding that ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations impose sanctions on the Togolese government. The primary concern centers on the recent constitutional reforms passed in March 2024, which the ECOWAS Court of Justice has ruled constitute an unconstitutional change of government.

This diplomatic and civic mobilization reflects growing dissatisfaction with the political shift in Togo. The 43 African civil society organizations are directly appealing to continental and global institutions to take decisive action against authorities in Lomé. Their urgency stems from a landmark ruling by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which declared the March 25, 2024 constitutional amendment a violation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG).

According to the coalition, the transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system—placing executive power in the hands of a Council President—represents an institutional distortion aimed at circumventing term limits. They further highlight that the amendment was pushed through by legislators whose terms had already expired and without any public referendum.

Five key demands for sanctions against Lomé

To prevent similar constitutional circumventions across West Africa, the signatories are calling for immediate and concrete measures from ECOWAS and the African Union. Their demands include:

1. Immediate suspension of Togo from all decision-making bodies within ECOWAS;
2. Revocation of voting rights and participation for Togo within the African Union;
3. Legal proceedings against those responsible for the institutional changes;
4. Review of diplomatic mandates held by Togolese regime figures;
5. Appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur to monitor human rights and governance in Togo.

Lomé rejects regional court ruling and defends sovereignty

In response to the accusations and the ECOWAS Court’s decision, the Togolese government has remained unyielding. An official statement categorically rejected the court’s conclusions, asserting that the regional judiciary lacks the authority to review internal constitutional matters or judge the sovereign power of member states.

The government maintains that the transition to the Fifth Republic is an exclusively national affair aimed at modernizing the country’s institutions. Authorities argue that the reform strengthens democratic governance and aligns with Togo’s development priorities.