Two protesters were killed in Togo during a government crackdown on street protests across the country.
The protesters were demanding reforms ahead of upcoming elections on December 20.
Security forces reportedly clashed with protesters on Saturday, firing tired teargas at them in the capital, Lome, and several other cities.
Togo is holding crucial elections on December 20, but opposition parties are unhappy with preparations for the polls.
Already Togo’s main opposition coalition has announced its decision to boycott the elections.
The coalition is unhappy with conditions set out for the polls. It’s leaders say there will more protests over the issue.
The agitation from the opposition coalition follows the decision by Togo’s Constitutional Court to exclude the 14-party opposition coalition that staged protests against President Gnassingbe.
The court however validated ballots for 12 parties and that of 17 other independent candidates. Togo has been plunged into a political crisis for months as opposition party supporters demand an end to the Gnassingbe dynasty.
The regional bloc ECOWAS has been trying to resolve the political crisis ahead of the December 20 elections.
The Gnassingbe family has been ruling the country for over 50 years now. Demands for current president, Faure Gnassingbe who took over from his father in 2005 has been met with security crackdown.
The Togolese President took over from his father Eyadema in 2005 after he died while in power for 38 years. He has since won elections in 2005, 2010 and 2015.
Source: Africafeeds.com
