The Episcopal Conference of Togo has raised serious concerns about the country’s sociopolitical trajectory following recent constitutional changes. In a message addressed to the faithful on Monday, May 26, the bishops warned that the new Constitution, adopted last year without broad national consultation, poses significant risks to national cohesion.
“A nation cannot be sustainably built on enforced silence, cultivated fear, contempt for its people’s voice, or a stubborn attempt to make citizens believe in a false reality,” the bishops stated firmly in their message.
The controversial constitutional revision, approved by Faure Gnassingbé on May 6, 2024, has triggered widespread anxiety among various segments of Togolese society. According to the bishops, the lack of genuine national dialogue surrounding the reform has created confusion and frustration that could lead to unpredictable and potentially violent consequences. They warn that suppressed anger among the population may erupt if grievances are not addressed.
The bishops also expressed regret that their earlier appeal to the Head of State to delay the promulgation of the new Constitution went unheeded. They fear a deterioration of public order in an already tense climate, aggravated by poor living conditions and mounting public dissatisfaction.
True peace, the bishops stressed, cannot exist without justice, truth, and sincere dialogue.
Call for Dialogue and National Healing
In light of the growing unrest, the Togolese episcopate has urged national authorities to acknowledge the public’s mounting unease and to adopt a posture of attentive listening and mutual respect. The bishops are calling for a genuine process of national healing, marked by inclusive and constructive dialogue.
Concluding their statement, the bishops appealed to the Togolese people to remain patient and dignified in the face of challenges. They called for resilience and maturity during this critical time, urging Catholic Christians in particular to intensify prayers for justice and peace. This intention, they said, should be carried throughout the Pentecost novena, which runs from Friday, May 30 to Saturday, June 7.
Catholic bishops warn of political unrest in Togo
