The Cadre national de concertation pour le changement (CNCC), a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organizations in Togo, has denounced restrictions on its recent meeting in Tsévié. According to the CNCC, several incidents occurred during the meeting, including the blocking of a delegation near the Davié toll booth and the prevention of participants from Vo and Anfoin from attending. The coalition also reported intimidation and arrest of five demonstrators, as well as the seizure of six mobile phones.
The CNCC presented a report on the incidents during a press conference on November 13, 2026. The coalition's leaders stated that these events were not isolated and are part of a series of administrative and security obstacles that their public initiatives have faced across the country. The CNCC specifically denounced administrative requirements imposed on event organizers, controls on militants in transit, and restrictions on the circulation of vehicles transporting participants.
The CNCC's concerns center on the freedom of assembly, which they argue is a fundamental right, not a favor granted by the authorities. In an address to President Faure Gnassingbé, the coalition recalled that the freedom of assembly and association is enshrined in law and called for the respect of public liberties and the guarantee of citizens' rights. This move is part of the ongoing political debate surrounding the advent of the Fifth Republic in Togo.
The CNCC, which includes prominent figures such as Aimé Gogué, Jean-Pierre Fabre, Me Dodji Apévon, and Professor David Dosseh, aims to continue its awareness campaign on the conditions for this institutional evolution and the implications of the judgment rendered by the ECOWAS Court of Justice. The coalition is contesting the government's inaction in the face of this judicial decision and demanding respect for the law, the restoration of public liberties, and the possibility for citizens to participate freely in national political life.
Despite the difficulties encountered in Tsévié, the CNCC views this mobilization as a demonstration of peaceful resistance. The coalition expressed gratitude to participants, particularly women, young people, journalists, and supporters from the diaspora. The CNCC's leaders stated that these obstacles will only strengthen their determination to pursue citizen mobilization actions.
The CNCC announced a new mass meeting in Lomé on December 13, 2026. Further details on the location and organization of this event will be communicated later. Through this new gathering, the coalition aims to mobilize more citizens around its political and institutional demands, with the main slogans being respect for fundamental freedoms, national sovereignty, and political change in Togo.
The CNCC also reported that 61,500 FCFA was spent on medical care for a soldier injured during the clashes, although the circumstances of the injury were not specified. The coalition's call for a "citizen awakening" as an imperative requirement reflects its determination to continue its actions in the face of obstacles and restrictions.
Key points
- The CNCC denounces restrictions on public meetings and calls for respect for fundamental freedoms and national sovereignty.
- The coalition reports incidents during its meeting in Tsévié, including the arrest of five demonstrators and the seizure of six mobile phones.
- A new mass meeting is announced in Lomé on December 13, 2026, to mobilize citizens around the CNCC's demands.
