The Togolese government has announced that it willhold its first elections for the upper house of parliament and the senate on February 2, 2025.
The constitutional amendment abolishes the election of the head of state by universal suffrage and introduces a parliamentary system.
The move has been faulted by opposition and civil society groups, describing it as a ploy by President Faure Gnassingbe to hold on to power indefinitely.
President Faure Gnassingbe has ruled over the small West African country of 8.8 million people since 2005, when he took over from his father in power for 38 years.
Under the previous constitution, Gnassingbe would have been able to run for the presidency just one more time in 2025.
But with the reform, Togo’s president becomes a mostly ceremonial role elected by parliament, and not the people, for a four-year term.
Gnassingbe will be able to take a new post as president of the council of ministers, allowing him to stay in power without term limits as long as his Union for the Republic remains the majority party in the national assembly.
