TOGOLESE PROTESTERS CALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT FAURE GNASSINGBÉ
Togolese nationals in Nigeria on Friday led a protest calling for the removal of Faure Gnassingbe who has been the President of Togo since 2005.
The protesters first went to the Embassy of France in Lagos then Marched to the Togo Embassy's Liaison office chanting "Faure must go."
Despite series of protests, Gnassingbe whose family has been ruling Togo since 1967, began his fourth term rule this year when he was re-elected in February 2020.
Eyadema Gnassingbe took power in a military coup in 1967 ruling Togo for 38 years. He died in power in 2005 and his son Faure Gnassingbé took over power in an election that claimed the lives of over 500 Togolese.
Togolese nationals calling for the removal of Gaurav Eyadema
Despite being a civilian president, Faure, like a lot of African leaders have refused to leave the reins of power.
Faura Eyadema amended a 1992 constitution that set a two-term limit for the president, allowing him to unlimited access to contest for elections.
Following massive protests, Togo's National Assembly in May 2019 passed a law limiting presidents to a two-five year term in office.
However, the new law did not take into account the three terms Gnassingbe has already served since 2005, paving the way for him to rule until 2030.
Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, September 7, called on African leaders to resist the urge to elongate their stay in power, saying the region cannot afford another political crisis.
Buhari made the call in Niamey at the recently concluded ECOWAS summit.
"The challenges facing the sub-region are enormous; from socio-economic matters to security issues, the ECOWAS sub-region cannot therefore afford another political crisis in the guise of tenure elongation." "I urge us all to resist the temptation of seeking to perpetuate ourselves in power beyond the constitutional provisions," Buhari said.
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara and Guinea President Alpha Conde are both trying to extend their stay in power this year.
On August 31, the ruling party in Guinea, the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG-Arc-En-Ciel) announced on national tv that President Alpha Condé will be running for a third term in the election scheduled for October 18.
Conde, 82, was first elected President of Guinea in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015.
READ ALSO: ECOWAS ISSUE ONE WEEK ULTIMATUM TO MALI MILITARY TO HAND OVER POWER TO CIVILIANS
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