Togo’s opposition alliance CNCC holds maiden protest rally in Lomé
Opposition forces in Togo have launched a fresh wave of resistance against the 2024 constitutional amendments, which critics argue were engineered to extend President Faure Gnassingbé’s grip on power. This renewed activism comes in the form of a newly formed coalition called the Cadre national de concertation pour le changement au Togo (CNCC), which staged its first major public gathering on May 9 in the capital, Lomé.
The CNCC represents a united front comprising four opposition political parties alongside several civil society organizations. This coalition aims to challenge the legitimacy of the controversial constitutional reforms, which eliminated direct presidential elections and replaced them with a parliamentary system where the President of the Council—currently occupied by Faure Gnassingbé—holds the highest executive authority.
The establishment of the CNCC marks a significant moment for Togo’s political landscape, as opposition gatherings have been scarce in recent years, with the last major public demonstration held over a year ago. The coalition seeks to mobilize citizens who reject what they describe as a constitutional coup designed to perpetuate the current leadership.
Demanding constitutional justice
The opposition’s primary grievance revolves around the 2024 constitutional changes, which they condemn as undemocratic. According to David Dosseh, spokesperson for the Front citoyen Togo debout (FCTD), a civil society group within the CNCC, the reforms represent a betrayal of the Togolese people’s will. “It was crucial for the Togolese people to show they remain steadfast and refuse to accept this constitutional fraud,” Dosseh stated. “We are entering a new phase of mobilization to restore democratic principles.”
The revised constitution abolishes direct presidential elections in favor of a parliamentary system, elevating the role of President of the Council—a position currently held by Faure Gnassingbé. Opposition leaders argue that this change consolidates power in the hands of the ruling elite and undermines the country’s democratic foundations.
Voices of dissent
During the CNCC’s inaugural rally, prominent opposition figures, including Jean-Pierre Fabre, leader of the Alliance nationale pour le changement (ANC), addressed the crowd. Fabre highlighted the case of Honoré Sitsopé Sokpor, known by his alias “Affectio,” a poet and activist who was re-arrested on May 4, just months after his conditional release. Sokpor has long been a vocal critic of the government, and his detention has drawn sharp condemnation from the opposition. “This is arbitrary detention—it’s outright persecution,” Fabre declared, calling for Sokpor’s immediate release and an end to what he described as political repression.
