Togo held municipal elections on Thursday, July 17, 2025, to fill 1,527 council seats across 117 municipalities—a key milestone following constitutional reforms that restructured the nation’s political system.
The elections were the first since significant May 2024 reforms that transitioned Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system. As a result, the presidency, held by Faure Gnassingbé since 2005, became largely ceremonial with term limits, while the newly established role of President of the Council of Ministers—currently held by Gnassingbé—remains without term limits.
Although not directly on the ballot, Gnassingbé’s influence dominated the elections, which many observers regarded as a barometer of his enduring popularity amid growing public discontent. Large-scale opposition protests took place on July 16–17, with critics decrying the reforms as a “constitutional coup” effectively enabling Gnassingbé’s indefinite rule.
Voter turnout was reportedly lower than in previous years, but the polling process was largely peaceful across more than 12,500 stations. Security personnel cast ballots early, and the government temporarily closed land borders to maintain order.
The ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, led by Gnassingbé, maintained dominance in the municipal races, as in previous years. Among 4.6 million registered voters, elected mayors and deputy mayors will serve six-year terms.
Election observers from ECOWAS and the African Union were present to monitor transparency and ensure peaceful conduct. This election represents a crucial test for Togo’s democracy as it adapts to a new political order under ongoing tension.
REPORT BY AGNES FRIMPOMAA DWENIM
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