Precisely one year ago, on June 26, 2025, Togo was profoundly shaken by one of the most tragic incidents during a period of widespread national demonstrations. On that somber day, Jacques Koami Koutoglo, a young adolescent merely 15 years old, tragically lost his life under circumstances that continue to ignite public indignation and demand answers. Numerous testimonies from his relatives and civil society organizations indicate that his body was discovered in the lagoon following the tumultuous events.
Beyond the immediate human tragedy, this case has become a poignant symbol of the alleged violence perpetrated against civilians during popular mobilizations. For many observers, the death of a minor amid a protest serves as a brutal reminder of the severe human cost associated with the persistent political tensions in Togo.
Yet, for Jacques’s family, the anguish did not conclude with his passing. Weeks after his death, authorities reportedly denied permission to hold a commemorative mass on July 8, 2025, marking the 40th day. This decision deeply distressed his loved ones, who perceived it as an infringement upon their fundamental right to mourn with dignity.
In the view of many Togolese citizens, preventing a family from honoring the memory of their child equates to prolonging their ordeal. Indeed, beyond any political divergences, the right to grieve a loved one and pay homage is a fundamental liberty and an essential aspect of human dignity.
One year onward, the name Jacques Koami Koutoglo remains inextricably linked to calls for truth, justice, and the eradication of impunity. His untimely demise continues to fuel demands for independent investigations into the violence that characterized the June 2025 demonstrations, alongside the imperative to establish accountability.
For a significant portion of the populace, no lasting national reconciliation can be contemplated until the families of the victims receive definitive answers regarding the precise circumstances of these fatalities and justice is duly rendered. When a child’s life is lost within a context of political dissent, an entire nation is compelled to reflect upon the protection of fundamental rights and the responsibility of those entrusted with power.
