Forty-three civil society organizations from Togo and other African countries have called for the enforcement of an ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling that declared Togo’s 2024 constitutional reform an unconstitutional change of government.
In an open letter to the ECOWAS Court, the groups welcomed the ruling, which was issued in January 2026 but only made public in June, and urged regional bodies to implement sanctions against Togo over the reform.
The organizations argued that the constitutional changes, approved by an outgoing assembly in 2024, were aimed at allowing President Faure Gnassingbé to bypass presidential term limits under the previous Constitution. The reform introduced a parliamentary system under the Fifth Republic and ended direct presidential elections by universal suffrage.
Aisha Dabo, programme coordinator of Africtivists, said the call for action was necessary because implementing court decisions often remains a challenge. She urged ECOWAS and the African Union to consider measures, including restrictions on Togo’s participation in their institutions.
The signatory groups also called on the Togolese government to promote democratic principles and good governance in line with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which Togo signed in 2007.