Lomé is boiling over the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling on constitutional amendments, with the Togolese government clashing head-on with civil society groups. While authorities dismiss the verdict, the Association of Victims of Torture in Togo (ASVITTO) has launched a scathing counterattack, branding the government’s stance as state-sponsored criminality.
Government rejects ECOWAS ruling with constitutional defense
The Togolese administration wasted no time in challenging the regional court’s decision. Officials argue that the ECOWAS Court lacks jurisdiction to review domestic constitutional matters or intervene in national constituent powers—a legal maneuver aimed at rendering the ruling ineffective within the country’s legal framework.
ASVITTO fires back: “A denial of reality”
Civil society isn’t buying the government’s defense. In a fiery statement on social media, ASVITTO accused authorities of attempting to “sweep the issue under the rug,” calling the amendments a constitutional coup and branding the regime’s response as a desperate attempt to cling to power.
“What remains unchanged is their long-standing pattern of ignoring ECOWAS rulings,” the group declared, pointing to a history of defiance toward regional judicial decisions. The association highlighted the plight of political prisoners still held in Lomé’s jails, despite multiple ECOWAS orders demanding their immediate release.
Civil society demands ECOWAS action against “state gangsterism”
ASVITTO has escalated its criticism, directly urging the regional bloc to take “decisive action” to curb what it describes as Togolese state criminality. The group is pushing for full enforcement of Judgment No. ECW/CCJ/JUD/01/26, issued in January, which declared the 2024 constitutional reforms incompatible with the African Charter on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance.
“This form of state-sanctioned lawlessness must end in the subregion,” ASVITTO stated, underscoring that the ruling’s enforcement remains stalled while political detainees continue to suffer behind bars.
Political deadlock leaves detainees in limbo
The standoff between Lomé and regional institutions shows no signs of easing. The government insists on its legal arguments, while civil society groups, like ASVITTO, accuse it of undermining Togo’s international obligations. Meanwhile, inmates caught in the crossfire await justice—not the rhetoric of politicians or social media spats—but tangible action that could finally secure their freedom.
