Togo constitutional crisis sparks regional sanctions call from 43 civil groups

Tensions are escalating over Togo’s political landscape as 43 civil society organizations (CSOs) across Africa and its diaspora urge the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations to impose sanctions on Lomé’s government. The move follows a landmark ruling by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which declared the constitutional reform of March 2024 an unconstitutional change of government.

A coalition of African CSOs has taken a bold stance, directly appealing to continental and global bodies to intervene. Their petition centers on a legal battle that challenges the legitimacy of Togo’s political transition—a shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system, granting executive powers to a Council President. Critics argue this move circumvents term limits and undermines democratic norms.

Key to their argument is the court’s verdict, which found the reform violates the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG). The organizations highlight that the constitutional amendment was railroaded through without a referendum and by lawmakers whose mandates had expired, further tarnishing its credibility.

Five punitive measures demanded against Togolese authorities

To deter similar constitutional circumventions in West Africa, the signatories are demanding five decisive actions from ECOWAS and the AU:

1. Immediate suspension of Togo from ECOWAS decision-making bodies;
2. Suspension of voting rights and participation in AU proceedings;
3. Legal proceedings against architects of the institutional overhaul;
4. Review of diplomatic assignments for officials linked to the regime;
5. Appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur to monitor human rights and governance in Togo.

Lomé’s defiance: sovereignty claims and court criticism

In response, the Togolese government has dug in its heels, dismissing the regional court’s ruling as an overreach. Authorities argue the ECOWAS court lacks jurisdiction to scrutinize a sovereign state’s constitutional amendments or its constituent power. Lomé insists the transition to the Fifth Republic is an internal matter aimed at modernizing the country’s institutions, firmly rejecting external interference.