The political crisis in Togo has escalated into an international dispute, with 43 civil society organizations (CSOs) from Africa and the diaspora urging the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to impose sanctions on the Togolese government. The move follows a landmark ruling by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which declared the March 2024 constitutional reform an “unconstitutional change of government.”

The coalition of CSOs is demanding decisive action from continental and global bodies to address what they describe as a deliberate institutional maneuver. Their letter highlights concerns over the shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system, which they argue undermines term limits and was adopted without public consultation or a referendum.

The court’s decision, outlined in judgment No. ECW/CCJ/JUD/01/26, found the reform in violation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG). The ruling emphasized that the changes were pushed through by legislators whose terms had expired, further questioning their legitimacy.

Five Demands for Strong International Action

The groups are calling for five specific measures to be taken against Lomé’s government to prevent similar constitutional circumventions in the region:

1. Immediate suspension of Togo from ECOWAS decision-making bodies;
2. Suspension of voting rights for Togo within the African Union;
3. Legal action against those responsible for the institutional changes;
4. Review of diplomatic mandates held by government-affiliated individuals;
5. Appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur to monitor human rights and governance in Togo.

Lomé Defends Sovereignty Amid Criticism

The Togolese government has rejected the ECOWAS court’s ruling, asserting that the regional judiciary lacks the authority to review domestic constitutional matters. In an official statement, authorities defended the reform as a sovereign move to modernize the country’s institutions, dismissing the court’s findings as incompetent.

Lomé’s stance underscores a deepening divide between the government and international observers, with civil society groups warning that the reform risks setting a dangerous precedent for democratic backsliding in West Africa.