Togo bans protests over a canceled presidential election as tensions rise

Togo’s government said a planned three-day protest this week over the arrest of opposition figures and new legislation scrapping president elections was illegal, a move that heightened tensions in the West African nation that has been ruled by the same family for almost 60 years. The interior and security ministries said the protests set to begin Thursday would seriously disturb public order.

The proposed constitution, which was passed by lawmakers in late March and is close to being enacted, grants parliament the power to choose the president, doing away with direct elections. It makes it likely that President Faure Gnassingbe would be reelected when his mandate expires in 2025. The opposition and the clergy say the legislation is an effort by Gnassingbe to prolong his rule.

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