Amnesty International said the Togolese authorities must end the unnecessary and excessive use of force against protesters.
The organization spoke with 18 victims and witnesses. Thirteen described a pattern of illegal use of force and security forces to abuse protesters and passers-by.
These cases must be studied independently and transparently in urgent circumstances.
Marceau Sivieude, Interim Regional Director, Amnesty International, Western and Central Africa
The protests, deemed illegal by authorities since early June, are the latest in a series of demonstrations against crackdowns on dissent, high cost of living and changes to the constitution. Last month, Amnesty International recorded allegations of torture or ill-treatment from protesters.
“In recent days, we have interviewed people who have alleged that men identified as security forces carried out unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and other ill-treatment, and several cases of abduction. These cases must be independently and transparently investigated as a matter of urgency,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
Report on the Illegal Use of Force in Security Forces
13 people interviewed by Amnesty International said men in uniform were suspected of being members of security forces and people known as “militia” used unnecessary, excessive force and violence.
A man living in Avénou said: “On June 30th, everything was quiet near us. Suddenly, three pickup vehicles and a car drove along our street. Everyone started running away. The men forced them into our house. They let us out and told us to kneel down. They were wearing civilian clothes. They pointed their guns at us.”
A 38-year-old man said: “At 26th at around 3pm on June 26, I participated in the Attiégou protest when a group of soldiers attacked me. They hit me hard. I ended up losing consciousness and some young people took me to treatment.”
A 17-year-old said he was arrested by Gendarmes on June 26 and held at the Zorobar Gendarmerie station for five days before being arrested at the former National Gendarmerie headquarters and the Avepozo Gendarmerie camp. “They raised our arms. […]. All day, we only drank one water. ”
The teenager said he was still suffering from back pain. According to him, on June 30, more than 40 military policemen, including other children, were detained.
Since June 27, two men and one woman have disappeared. They were allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified man from a house near Adidomame. On June 27, one of the victims saw people suddenly rushing into the room and then cut the video. In the previous day, he posted several videos in support of the protests and condemned the arrest.
All light must be emitted in the whereabouts of these dead and those who have disappeared.
Fabien Offner, Fellow at Amnesty International’s Western Regional and Central Africa Regional Offices
At least seven people died, including children
The parents of a 16-year-old boy, who was found dead in BèLagoon on June 27, told Amnesty International that members of security forces in black uniforms entered the neighborhood the day before and heard a shooting of tear gas. The boy’s body was found along with the other child’s body.
In a statement shared on 29 June, Togo’s civil society organizations reported that seven people died and their bodies were found in the rivers of Lome, and mentioned the “beating” and “arbitrary arrest of passers-by, youth and seniors”, as well as the “chasing” […] Young people (sometimes children) are forced to take refuge.
The statement also mentioned bullet holes in three bodies found in Bèlagoon on June 27 […] and testimony from local residents who reported the gunshots.
“All deaths must emit the whereabouts of these deaths and the disappearance of those who have disappeared. Those who have been detained for the exercise of freedom of speech and the Parliament of Peace must be released.”
The government announced on June 29 that the body found was a “drowned” person, citing the results of forensic analysis.
“We don’t know the exact number of people in the courts and in courts that are still in custody,” attorney Darius K. Atsoo told Amnesty International. According to him, 18 people arrested on June 26 and 28 were released and 31 people were still detained after hearings before prosecutors, according to him.
According to testimony, on July 2, their family did not find six people.
background
Since the adoption of the new constitution in April 2024, power has been concentrated in the hands of the Chairman of the Ministers Committee and the Chairman of the Leaders Committee of the Majority Party. Former President Faure Gnassingbé held the position on May 3, 2025 since his father died in 2005.
In recent years, the Togolese authorities have regularly banned peaceful gatherings, meetings of political parties and civil society, and have weakened freedom of speech and peaceful gatherings, including sentences to journalists.
