- Title: Togo opposition calls for president to quit as protests mount
- Date: 6th September 2017
- Summary: LOME, TOGO (SEPTEMBER 6, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING ON STREETS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING TOGO FLAG AND CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED MALE PROTESTER, SAYING: "My message for our President of the Republic is the following: He has to come back to the original constitution of 1992 which is not this faked one. And us, the people of Togo, we do not want it. The second request is that our brothers and sisters living abroad have to be able to vote it. And third, we need reforms, as I want to be able to feed myself at ease." PROTESTERS STANDING ON STREET PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER SAYING: "We are absolutely determined, the constitution of 1992 has to come back to Togo. (Togo President) Faure Gnassingbe has to leave. The Gnassingbe family has to leave." PROTESTERS WALKING DOWN STREET PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS AND CHANTING PROTESTERS WAVING TOGO FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF CAP 2015, OPPOSITION COALITION, BRIGITTE ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, SAYING: "The people from Togo are exasperated. We have the feeling that the regime doesn't understand what is going on. We have requested the reinstallation of the original Constitution of 1992, and we are told lies. Well, we have passed this stage, now you are hearing the people, they are asking for the resignation." CROWD OF PEOPLE ON STREET PEOPLE PROTESTING ON STREET JOHNSON WALKING AMONG PROTESTERS WEARING TSHIRT WITH TOGO FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF CAP 2015, OPPOSITION COALITION, BRIGITTE ADJAMAGBO JOHNSON, SAYING: "It is not a coincidence, it is all lies. We are not at that stage anymore. They will not drag us again in endless negotiation process and compromises where we will be cheated again. This went on for 11 years and now it's enough." PROTESTERS AT COLOMBE SQUARE DOVE AT TOP OF MONUMENT AT COLOMBE SQUARE VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE
- Embargoed: 20th September 2017 20:21
- Keywords: protests in Togo bill limiting presidency anti-government protests in Togo protests at Colombe Square
- Location: LOME, TOGO
- City: LOME, TOGO
- Country: Togo
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016XGN39J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Togo's opposition called on Wednesday (September 6) for the immediate resignation of President Faure Gnassingbe, the current head of a half century-old political dynasty, rejecting a government move to introduce term limits as protests gained momentum.
Tens of thousands of protesters clad in red, orange and pink - the colours of Togo's opposition parties - marched through the streets of the capital Lome as security forces looked on. Some carried banners bearing slogans including "Free Togo" and "Faure resign".
Togo's cabinet on Tuesday (September 5) adopted a draft bill to bring back the term limits, the government announced in a statement. But the decision did little to satisfy an increasingly rejuvenated opposition.
Gnassingbe has ruled the West African nation since his father died in 2005 after 38 years in power. The late President Gnassingbe Eyadema passed a law in 1992 limiting the president to two terms in power, only to scrap it a decade later.
Togo, which aspires to become an African Dubai and hosts the headquarters of pan-African lender Ecobank and other major firms, has a history of repression. Around 500 people were killed during protests against the current leader's 2005 poll victory. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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