Faure Gnassingbé Sworn In as Togo’s “President of the Council of Ministers” Amid Constitutional Changes
New Role Introduced Without Term Limits Following Parliamentary System Shift
Togo’s long-serving leader, Faure Gnassingbé, has officially taken office as the country’s first “President of the Council of Ministers”—a newly created position that serves as the highest executive authority under revised constitutional reforms. The role carries no official term limits, raising concerns about prolonged political control.
Constitutional Reform Sparks Opposition Backlash
The change follows sweeping constitutional amendments that abolished presidential elections and transitioned Togo into a parliamentary system. Opposition groups argue that the reforms were designed to enable Gnassingbé to retain power indefinitely.
Gnassingbé’s family has governed Togo for 58 consecutive years. He assumed leadership in 2005 after his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled for nearly four decades. Critics have labeled the constitutional overhaul an “institutional coup d’état”, though the government temporarily delayed implementation following public outcry before proceeding.
New Political Era Begins with Upcoming Elections
Togo’s upcoming municipal elections in July will be the first conducted under the new parliamentary framework. While the presidency has been reduced to a ceremonial role, analysts suggest Gnassingbé’s influence is now more deeply entrenched than ever in his capacity as Council President.
His political party, the Union for the Republic, secured a dominant victory in last year’s parliamentary elections, claiming 108 out of 113 seats in the National Assembly.
Source: BBC