Faure Gnassingbé, who has led Togo since 2005, was sworn in this week as President of the Council of Ministers, a newly created position that now holds supreme executive power under the country’s reformed constitution. The role carries no term limits, effectively allowing him to remain in control indefinitely.
The controversial transition to a parliamentary system—which eliminates direct presidential elections—was formalized through constitutional reforms passed by lawmakers last year. The reforms have been sharply criticized by opposition parties and civil society groups, who describe the shift as an “institutional coup d’état.”
The new system designates the presidency as a largely ceremonial post, while vesting actual governing authority in the hands of the Council President—a position now occupied by Gnassingbé.
Power Consolidation Amid 58-Year Family Dynasty
Gnassingbé’s ascension to this new post extends his family’s grip on power, which began in 1967 with his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled for nearly 40 years. Faure took over following Eyadéma’s death in 2005, and has since won multiple elections under disputed circumstances.
Critics argue that the latest reforms are engineered to circumvent presidential term limits and further consolidate his rule. The opposition has decried the move as undemocratic, warning that the changes erase what little accountability remained in Togo’s political system.
Despite widespread backlash, the government proceeded with the changes. Gnassingbé’s party, Union for the Republic (UNIR), currently holds 108 of the 113 seats in the National Assembly, allowing them to pass sweeping reforms without significant resistance.
First Elections Under New Constitution Set for July
Togo’s upcoming municipal elections in July will be the first held under the new system. Analysts say that while the framework may resemble a parliamentary democracy on paper, actual power remains tightly centralized around Gnassingbé and his inner circle.
“This isn’t a shift toward democracy—it’s a rebranding of authoritarianism,” said one political analyst based in West Africa. “By removing presidential elections and empowering a parliamentary system dominated by a single party, Togo has effectively eliminated political competition.”
As regional and international observers watch closely, many fear that Togo’s governance model may embolden similar maneuvers elsewhere on the continent, where long-standing leaders are under pressure to leave office.