Arrest of a pro-democracy activist in Togo: Outrage over Faure Gnassingbé’s authoritarian excesses!

Since 28 November 2020, Ms Kafui ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON, West Africa Regional Coordinator for Women, Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF/FeDDAF-AO), has been held at the Central Service for Research and Criminal Investigations (SCRIC). After 155 hours in police custody, the coordinator of the Dynamique Monseigneur Kpodrzo (DMK), a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organisations in Togo, was remanded in custody. The same happened to Mr Gérard Yaovi Djossou, the DMK’s Social Affairs and Human Rights Officer, who was arrested on 27 November and spent 192 hours in police custody. The Togolese justice system is prosecuting them for criminal conspiracy and undermining the internal security of the State.

DMK members were arrested as their platform was preparing to hold a large demonstration in Lomé to denounce the results of the February 2020 presidential election and the judicial harassment of opponents.

Article 14 of Togo’s fundamental charter states that the exercise of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution “may be subject only to restrictions expressly provided for by law and necessary to protect national security, public order, public health, morals, or the rights and freedoms of others”.

It should also be noted that authoritarian abuses in Togo are not new; the situation has continued to worsen. In January 2019, a court in Lomé sentenced a young activist named Folly Satchivi to 36 months in prison, 12 of them suspended. He was prosecuted for “aggravated disturbance of public order and condoning crimes and offences”. The 23-year-old, who led the “En aucun cas” movement, had been arrested on 22 August 2018 while trying to organise a press conference deemed “illegal”. Previously, in June 2017, he had received a 12-month suspended sentence from the Lomé court following demonstrations on the city’s university campus.

It is also worth noting that democratic backsliding has been pronounced in Togo over the past decade. Invoking security concerns, the authorities have imposed severe restrictions on public demonstrations. Two laws passed in 2019 barred demonstrations from certain areas and roads. In addition, meetings and peaceful demonstrations on public roads and in public places may no longer be held before 11 am or after 6 pm.

AfricTivistes condemns this democratic backsliding and these violations of fundamental rights and freedoms in Togo. We condemn the arrest of Ms Kafui ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON. We believe the Togolese authorities are seriously mistaken in associating her — a criminal conspiracy? — with a group of criminals, when she is also the West Africa Regional Coordinator for Women, Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF/FeDDAF-AO).

AfricTivistes believes that President Faure Gnassingbé declared war on civil society in his country a long time ago. Nothing can justify this relentless persecution of human rights defenders, particularly of this woman of integrity, who leads an organisation defending women’s rights and has always fought for that cause.

AfricTivistes wishes to remind the Togolese authorities that they must respect the inalienable rights of their people and reverse this series of decisions that violate the Togolese Constitution and the fundamental human rights charters.

AfricTivistes is increasingly concerned by the authoritarian excesses of Faure Gnassingbé’s regime. We believe he must come to his senses and ensure that fundamental rights and freedoms are respected.

AfricTivistes condemns the use of the justice system to stifle Ms Kafui ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON’s activism. Her sole aim has always been to pursue social justice and shared prosperity for Togo.

AfricTivistes calls on the Public Prosecutor to dismiss this case, which contains no serious factual evidence that could show an attempt to destabilise the institutions of the Republic or establish a criminal conspiracy.

AfricTivistes urges the Togolese government to review the laws and regulations that restrict freedom of assembly and expression.

AfricTivistes renews its call on the international community to closely monitor the state of democracy in Togo and the authoritarian excesses of Faure Gnassingbé’s regime.

Finally, AfricTivistes calls on African and international civil society to mobilise for the restoration of rights and freedoms in Togo.