An international forum on Togo’s political crisis, held in Montreal alongside the General Assembly of the Coalition of the Togolese Diaspora for Change and Democracy (CODITOGO), ended with a strong call for President Faure Gnassingbé to step down.
In its closing statement, dubbed the “Montreal Declaration,” CODITOGO delivered a blunt assessment of Togo’s sociopolitical situation, describing the country as being in a “comatose state” after 35 years of struggle for freedom. The coalition urged pro-democracy forces to unite against what it called a moribund authoritarian system that has gripped the country for more than five decades.
The declaration directly appealed to President Gnassingbé to “fully recognize the gravity of Togo’s crisis and resign, thus paving the way for a political transition and a peaceful democratic change.”
The forum also highlighted the outspoken intervention of former Togolese Minister of Defense Essossimna Marguerite Gnakadé, who released a video on August 17 criticizing the current government. CODITOGO praised her for what it described as a “brave and unfiltered speech,” citing it as evidence that voices of dissent are increasingly breaking through.
“Speech is now liberated,” the coalition stated, encouraging more Togolese citizens to speak out and hasten what it described as the decline of “the ruling RPT/UNIR system, in power for nearly 60 years.”
CODITOGO concluded by urging Togolese citizens to remain mobilized and to respond massively to the upcoming August 30 demonstration called by the M66 movement, aimed at demanding an end to Gnassingbé’s rule.
Togo has been facing a prolonged political crisis, further aggravated by a controversial constitutional amendment ratified on May 6, 2025, which critics say allows Faure Gnassingbé to remain in power indefinitely, breaking with the previous constitution’s term limits.
