On April 7, 2026, opposition groups in Togo criticized the hosting of the 17th Conference of Speakers of Parliaments and Sections of the African Region of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) in Lomé, describing it as a “deceptive democratic showcase.”
Four political and civil society groups—including the People’s Majority Movement (DMP), DMK-ORIGINALE, LDP, and the “Hands Off My Constitution” Front—argued that the event presents a misleading image of the country amid what they describe as a deepening democratic crisis.
The opposition raised concerns over alleged restrictions on civil liberties, arrests of activists, and challenges to universal suffrage. Spokesperson Nathaniel Olympio stated that hosting the conference distorts the country’s political reality and sends the wrong signal to the international community.
Criticism also centred on the long tenure of President Faure Gnassingbé, who has been in power for over two decades following his father, Gnassingbé Eyadèma, who ruled for 38 years.
Opposition figures further denounced the April 19, 2024 constitutional reform, arguing that it undermines direct universal suffrage for presidential elections and shifts the system towards a parliamentary model they claim is inconsistent with democratic norms.
The groups also referenced past incidents of political violence, including fatalities and injuries during June 2025 demonstrations, and attacks reported in Lomé on September 29, 2024, involving political figures and journalists.
They concluded that holding the APF conference in Lomé amounts to an endorsement of the authorities, despite ongoing concerns over governance, human rights, and democratic standards.