Clashes erupted Thursday between demonstrators and security forces in several neighborhoods of the Togolese capital, as tensions continue to mount despite a government ban on public gatherings.
Spontaneous protests were reported in key areas of Lomé, including Bè, the Colombe de la Paix monument, and along Boulevard de l’Oti. Tear gas was fired by Police to break up the groups, prompting scenes of panic and stampedes in the affected zones.
No official toll has been released, but eyewitnesses reported heavy-handed arrests and a tense atmosphere across the city.
The unrest follows calls from the Togolese diaspora for mass demonstrations from June 26 to 28, 2025, demanding the departure of the current regime. Activist networks have been mobilizing citizens through social media platforms, particularly TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp, which have played a central role in rallying support and sharing real-time updates.
However, access to TikTok has temporary been disrupted in Togo since the early hours of Thursday, limiting the activists’ ability to communicate widely. This follows an increasingly restrictive media environment in the country. Just weeks earlier, the Togolese authorities suspended the broadcasts of France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI), further complicating foreign media coverage of the unfolding political situation.
