Togo opposition cncc launches first major rally in Lomé

A groundbreaking gathering unfolded in Lomé on Saturday, May 9, as opposition forces in Togo united for the inaugural public meeting of the Cadre national de concertation pour le changement au Togo (CNCC).

The newly formed coalition brings together four opposition parties alongside influential civil society organizations, signaling a renewed push against recent political developments in the country. The CNCC seeks to challenge the 2024 Togolese Constitution, which critics argue was designed to extend President Faure Gnassingbé‘s grip on power indefinitely.

mobilizing against constitutional changes

The opposition’s primary target is the 2024 Constitution, which eliminated direct presidential elections and replaced the head of state with a parliamentary system. Under this new structure, the role of President of the Council—currently held by Faure Gnassingbé—becomes the nation’s highest political office.

“The Togolese people must show they remain united in rejecting this constitutional fraud,” declared David Dosseh, spokesperson for the Front citoyen Togo debout (FCTD). “We are entering a critical phase of renewed mobilization to defend our democratic rights.”

voices from the opposition front

Prominent opposition figures seized the platform to voice their concerns. Jean-Pierre Fabre, leader of the Alliance nationale pour le changement (ANC), highlighted the case of poet and activist Honoré Sitsopé Sokpor (known as “Affectio”), who was re-arrested on May 4 despite recent release under judicial supervision. “This is arbitrary detention—a deliberate act of persecution,” Fabre asserted.

The CNCC‘s first public meeting marks a significant shift in Togo’s political landscape after more than a year without major opposition gatherings, demonstrating the coalition’s determination to reshape the country’s democratic trajectory.