In Togo the Constitution Is a Prop for Dictatorship
I read recently that the dictatorship in Togo is considering an amendment to the constitution in which the president will be elected by the National Assembly. This latest consideration is a reminder of the reality that in Togo the constitution exists as a prop which the dictatorship relies on to uphold the facade of democracy. The reality is that democracy does not exist in Togo and has not existed in Togo for decades now.
The current constitution was first drafted in 1992 when political pressure forced the dictatorship in Togo to open up to a multiparty system which allowed for open elections in theory. In practice, however, the brutality of the dictatorship persisted. That the 1992 constitution was a farce is demonstrated by the fact that Gnassingbe Eyadema altered the constitution to give himself a third term. The two-term limit was finally reinstated in 2019, after massive protests from the Togolese people. The problem was that the new term limits were not retroactive, which meant that Faure Gnassingbe could remain in office until 2030. Apparently this is not enough for him, so he is seeking to implement a parliamentary system which would prolong his stay in power even longer. Faure has been in power in Togo since 2005 and if he has his way, he will remain in power for life.
It’s important for outside observers to understand the nature of democracy in Togo. Democracy in Togo is a sham, but Togo continues to present itself as a democratic society and it uses the constitution as a prop to sustain this facade of democracy. It is also important to note that the regime in Togo is no doubt feeling the pressure of trying to sustain this facade at a time when there is a significant political shift taking place in West Africa. This is not only demonstrated by recent military coups in nations such as Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Recent events in Senegal has caused the nation’s reputation as a stable democracy to come into question. The regime in Togo knows that its continued survival is not only based on its ability to use the military to terrorize its civilians, but also on its ability to escape international pressure by presenting itself as a stable democracy led by a “simple man”. The two things that it cannot afford to lose control of are the military and the facade of democracy. The constitution helps to sustain the latter, but this recent proposed amendment is the latest example of the reality that the current constitution in Togo exists only to serve the dictator. Togo’s constitution does not sustain democracy in Togo.
