Togo dey face serious protests wey youth dey lead, as people dey show say dem no happy wit how the Gnassingbe family dey rule the country. Dis family don dey power for long time, and many Togolese dey feel say dem no get voice. The protests dey come from plenty things, like how dem dey repress people and the rising cost of living.
"Hands Off My Constitution" Coalition Dey Lead the Charge
The "Hands Off My Constitution" coalition, wey be group of civic groups and opposition leaders, dey call for more protests for the coming days. Dem dey say the new political structure wey dem put in place na "constitutional coup." Since June, President Faure Gnassingbe fit stay for power without any limit to how long he fit rule. Dis dey make many people vex, as dem dey see am as way to keep the Gnassingbe family for power forever.
Rising Prices Dey Add Fuel to the Fire
According to Ulf Laessing from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), many Togolese dey worry about the way prices dey go up. "The way electricity price take go up dey trigger the protests, wey dey target the presidential family, Gnassingbe, wey don dey power for 60 years," Laessing tell DW. He add say even though protests don happen before, dis one look like say e big pass the others.
Police Dey Use Force Against Protesters
Police don dey use force to stop the protests. Dem arrest over 80 people for June during the first round of rallies. Reports dey say police use tear gas against the crowd. Activists dey talk say security forces dey mistreat protesters. Aime Adi, director of Amnesty International office for Togo, tell The Associated Press say dem beat some people during arrest.
Press Freedom Dey Under Attack
Press freedom dey also suffer. Dem suspend French international broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months because dem say dem no dey show impartiality for how dem dey cover the protests. Dem even hold one journalist from French public broadcaster TV5 for police station for several hours without charging am wit any crime. Dis dey show say government dey try to silence any voice wey dey criticize dem.
Key Issues Dey Drive the Protests:
- Dynastic Rule: The Gnassingbe family don dey power for decades, and many Togolese dey feel say dem no get chance to choose dia own leaders.
- Rising Cost of Living: The price of basic things like electricity dey go up, wey dey make life hard for many people.
- Repression: Government dey use force to silence dissent, wey dey include arresting protesters and suspending media outlets.
The protests for Togo dey show say many people dey tire of the way things dey go. E remain to be seen wetin go happen next, but one thing sure: the youth of Togo don dey ready to fight for dia future.