|
2024-04-30 Africa Subsaharan
|
|
Togo's parliamentary election tests proposal to prolong dynasty's rule
|
[AFRICANEWS] The opposition and religious leaders say the legislation is an effort by President Faure Gnassingbe, in office since 2005, to prolong his rule. Lawmakers passed the legislation in March after their mandate expired, and it is close to being enacted.
The West African nation has been ruled by the same family for 57 years, initially by Eyadema Gnassingbe and then his son. Faure Gnassingbe took office after elections that the opposition described as a sham. The opposition says the proposed new constitution makes it likely that Gnassingbe will stay on when his mandate expires in 2025.
Authorities cracked down on civic and media freedoms ahead of Monday's vote. Early this month, the government banned protests against the proposed new constitution and the arrest of opposition figures. The electoral commission has banned the Catholic Church from deploying election observers.
In mid-April, a French journalist who arrived to cover the elections was arrested, assaulted and expelled. Togo's media regulator later suspended the accreditation process for foreign journalists.
Some 4.2 million Togolese were registered to vote in the country of about 8 million people. Voters were electing candidates for 113 parliamentary seats — 22 more than in the previous assembly — and for the first time filling 179 senatorial positions. Preliminary results were expected within six days.
Togo’s authorities sealed the borders on Monday for security reasons and dispatched some 12,000 gendarmes and coppers to safeguard the voting process.
Amid a rise in the spread of disinformation during elections in West Africa, authorities warned against disseminating false results or other misleading news.
|
Posted by Fred 2024-04-30 2024-04-30 01:38||
||
Front Page|| [11144 views ]
Top
File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
|
|
Posted by Super Hose 2024-04-30 11:54||
2024-04-30 11:54||
Front Page
Top
|
|
Posted by M. Murcek 2024-04-30 11:57||
2024-04-30 11:57||
Front Page
Top
|
|
17:40 swksvolFF
17:34 Ebbuger Whuque4103
17:30 Ebbuger Whuque4103
17:02 Melancholic
16:27 Gravilet Snanter4154
16:20 Chaise Speaking for Boskone7897
16:02 Skidmark
16:01 Skidmark
15:46 Skidmark
15:41 Skidmark
15:37 swksvolFF
15:36 Skidmark
15:34 Skidmark
15:27 Skidmark
14:48 NoMoreBS
14:31 NoMoreBS
14:16 NoMoreBS
14:15 NoMoreBS
14:04 swksvolFF
13:47 Regular joe
13:43 swksvolFF
13:38 swksvolFF
13:34 swksvolFF
13:31 Abu Uluque
|
