On 4 April 2024 Togo postponed its parliamentary and regional elections to 29 April after an initial one-week extension for the polls originally set for 13 April. This postponement follows a trend in the region, albeit the first instance in a civilian-led state. The situation is particularly fraught because of tensions emanating from a set of proposed constitutional changes that, when promulgated, could increase long-term President Gnassingbé Eyadema’s term in office, remove the power to directly elect the president from citizens and strongly empower the parliament. Notably, the new constitution, which received final approval from all 87 pro-regime parliamentarians, shifts the country from a presidential democracy to a parliamentary one. Protests are expected to follow this process, mostly because it was not subjected to a referendum to gain national approval and is now being rushed through the constitutional amendment process. Already political opposition, as well as civil society in Togo, have rejected the adoption of the new constitution on the grounds that the terms of the lawmakers expired on 31 December 2023 and, therefore, they lack the constitutional authority to implement such a fundamental change. Eyadema asked the parliament to hold another vote, after condemnation followed the initial decision on 25 March, but parliament resubmitted the bill on 19 April, which returns the buck to the president and could provide clues about the likely path forward for Togolese politics after decades of rule by the Eyadema family.
