The constitutional crisis in Togo has escalated into a full-blown international dispute. In a joint open letter, 43 civil society organizations (CSOs) from Africa and the diaspora are calling on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations to impose sanctions against the Togolese government. The catalyst for this bold move is the landmark ruling by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which declared the March 2024 constitutional reform a ‘unconstitutional change of government.’
This coordinated diplomatic and civic pressure campaign represents a significant escalation in efforts to challenge the political transition underway in Togo. The collective of 43 African CSOs is directly appealing to continental and global institutions, urging decisive action against authorities in Lomé for what they describe as a deliberate undermining of democratic norms.
The crux of their argument lies in the ECOWAS Court’s judgment No. ECW/CCJ/JUD/01/26, which explicitly states that the constitutional amendment adopted on March 25, 2024, violates the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG). This ruling underscores the regional body’s stance on the illegitimacy of the reform, which transformed the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system—effectively transferring executive power to a Council President.
The CSOs argue that this institutional overhaul constitutes an ‘institutional subversion’, designed to circumvent term limits and consolidate power. They emphasize that the amendment was railroaded through by a parliament whose mandate had expired, without any public consultation via referendum—a move they condemn as a blatant disregard for democratic principles.
Five decisive sanctions demanded against the Togolese government
The coalition is not merely calling for condemnation; it is demanding concrete action. To prevent similar constitutional circumventions across West Africa, the signatories have outlined five key sanctions they want ECOWAS and the AU to enforce:
- Immediate suspension of Togo from ECOWAS decision-making bodies;
- Suspension of voting rights and participation for Togo within the African Union;
- Legal action against those responsible for orchestrating the institutional changes;
- Review of diplomatic mandates held by Togolese government officials;
- Appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur to monitor human rights and governance in Togo.
Lomé’s defiant response: National sovereignty and judicial overreach
In the face of these mounting pressures, the Togolese government has pushed back forcefully. Following the release of the ECOWAS Court’s ruling, the executive branch issued an official statement outright rejecting the regional court’s conclusions.
Lomé maintains that the ECOWAS Court lacks the jurisdiction to review or invalidate the internal constitutional amendments of its member states. Authorities argue that the transition to the Fifth Republic is a matter of ‘national sovereignty’ and a necessary step toward modernizing the country’s governance structure. They insist that the reform was entirely within the realm of constitutional sovereignty and not subject to external judicial oversight.
