The opposition in Togo on Tuesday boycotted the parliamentary vote on proposed constitutional reforms in the West African nation after raising concerns with the content of the bill.
The government’s bill detailing political reforms in the country was submitted to the lawmaking house last week but debate and vote on it was deferred to this week.
The opposition party supporters have been staging series of protests across the country to demand an end to the Gnassingbe dynasty which has lasted for 50 years so far.
The opposition stayed away from parliament on Tuesday thereby blocking the passage of the bill for political reform which means the reforms will have to be passed through a referendum.
AFP quoted spokesperson for the main opposition National Alliance for Change (ANC) party, Eric Dupuy as saying that the National Assembly session was a “sham”.
Supporters of Togo’s ruling party are to stage a protest to counter that of opposition political parties in the country’s capital Lome on Wednesday and Thursday.
This is to show support for the President Faure Gnassingbe who is facing pressure to step down as opposition parties call for an end to his family’s dynasty.
The opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre, on Monday sent an audio message to the Togolese people via the Whatsapp messaging service saying “My dear compatriots… we invite you once again to mobilise to take part in great numbers in the demonstrations that the democratic forces contemplate.”
“We will not have rest until Mr. Faure Gnassingbe has left power as you ask him,” Jean-Pierre Fabre further said.
Faure Gnassingbe took over from his father Eyadema 12 years ago after he died while in power for 38 years. He has since won elections in 2005, 2010 and 2015 but got the two-term limit for presidents scrapped a year ago to allow him to further prolong his rule.
Source: Africafeeds.com
