December 05, 2017

Togo protests herald new democratic dispensation in Africa

located:	Togo
editor:	Bob Koigi

It comes with little surprise that the Republic of Togo has broken, once again, into political protests, considering such manifestations have taken place in 2005, 2011 and 2014. What makes this year’s political skirmishes particularly intense and unique, is the number of protestors involved, and the likely spillover effect it may have on the rest of West Africa. Neighbouring countries’ heads of states have already sounded the alarm on the deadly consequences these protests will have on the rest of the region.

Tired of what has been christened a family dynasty rule, the Togolese want the incumbent president Faure Gnassingbe to step down – having been in power since 2005 after inheriting the seat from his late father who ruled the country for close to four decades. Citizens feel shortchanged by the two administrations, opting for the streets to voice their displeasure.

What also makes the protests unique is that for the first time, citizens from the President Gnassingbe’s home base in Northern Togo have joined the protests. But even as the government works to clamp the protests, with at least 16 protesters having been killed so far, and a total Internet shutdown instituted, voices outside Togo have exemplified the call to end the dictatorship with the Twitter hashtag, #TogoEnMarche (Togo on the move).

The campaign is also advocating for the introduction of political and electoral reforms that would see presidential terms limited to two. It is a message that is reverberating miles away in Uganda, where protesters have braved police brutality to speak against a bill that seeks to remove presidential age limit, giving the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled for 31 years, leeway to extend his time in office.

The two political protests are heralding a new dispensation, especially in Sub Saharan Africa with the citizenry now resolving to take an active role in the governance process. Indeed images of protestors braving tear gas and bullets from the police is a poignant reminder of the power the people have and that they are finally ready to defend the supreme law of their land. And so the question remains, will this alter Africa’s club of long serving despots?