LOME, Togo (AP) — Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has signed a controversial new constitution that eliminates presidential elections, a statement from his office said late Monday. It’s a move that opponents say will allow him to extend his family’s six-decade-long rule.
Under the new legislation, parliament will have the power to choose the president, doing away with direct elections. The election commission on Saturday announced that Gnassingbe’s ruling party had won a majority of seats in the West African nation’s parliament.
Ahead of the vote, there was a crackdown on civic and media freedoms. The government banned protests against the proposed new constitution and arrested opposition figures. The electoral commission banned the Catholic Church from deploying election observers. In mid-April, a French journalist who arrived to cover the elections was arrested, assaulted and expelled. Togo’s media regulator later suspended the accreditation process for foreign journalists.
Revealed: The '18 DEMANDS' Muslim Vote group issued to Keir Starmer after dozens of pro
Digital Audiovisual Art Fuels China's Culture, Tourism Consumption
Experts Restore Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
Culture, Museum Craze Drives Consumption During China's Eight
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Freshpet rise; Luminar, Integra fall, Monday, 5/6/2024
Calligraphy, Painting Industry Thrives in E China's County
Spring Bud Girls Attend 2023 Changchun Air Show
Volleyball Ignites Latest Rural Sports Passion on China's Tropical Island
Babar hoping paceman Rauf will regain full fitness and make an impact for Pakistan at T20 World Cup
More Measures Called for to Boost Births