Thousands of Togolese from opposition political parties on Saturday held a street protest demanding the suspension of this month’s general elections.
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. Opposition leader Jean Pierre Fabre told AFP that “The demonstrations are ongoing.
One cannot organise elections in the current context where a large majority of the population oppose the unilateral organisation of the vote.”
Togo has been plunged into a political crisis for months as opposition party supporters demand an end to the Gnassingbe dynasty.
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 regional bloc ECOWAS has been trying to resolve the political crisis ahead of the December 20 elections.
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
