Togo: Catholic Bishops denounce ‘culture of lies’ as government links protest deaths to drowning

In the wake of violent crackdowns on protests in Togo, the country’s Catholic bishops have issued a powerful statement condemning the government’s handling of recent unrest and what they describe as a growing “culture of lies.”

The statement, released on June 30 by the Episcopal Conference of Togo (CET), follows days of demonstrations against President Faure Gnassingbé’s regime and a controversial constitutional reform that could extend his rule indefinitely. At least seven people, including minors, are reported to have died during the protests in Lomé on June 26, 27, and 28, with several bodies later recovered from local lagoons.

While the government claims the victims died by drowning and accuses “foreign-based individuals” of spreading misinformation through artificial intelligence and false imagery, the bishops strongly dispute this narrative. “A use as disproportionate of force to repress a protest, even if unauthorized, is simply unacceptable,” the CET wrote. “We denounce the culture of lies in our country.”

Medical professionals and civil society leaders, including Dr. David Dosseh, have also questioned the credibility of the government’s account. “What professional conducted the autopsy to conclude these children drowned?” Dosseh asked. “We saw no health officials on site, only police and gendarmes.”

The bishops warned that ignoring the sacredness of life and the truth undermines the nation’s cohesion. “Persisting in seeing the truth and making others believe the false is a moral violence,” they declared. “The cries of the innocent rise to God.”

The CET also expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, calling for calm, accountability, and prayer. “We urge all Togolese, especially leaders and security forces, to act with responsibility and restraint.”

As public frustration mounts over the government’s silence and denials, the Catholic Church’s strongly worded rebuke adds weight to demands for justice, transparency, and international attention.