Togo Set to Elect First Senate in February Following Controversial Constitutional Reform
Togo is set to hold its first elections for the upper house of parliament, the Senate, on February 2, marking a significant step toward implementing a controversial new constitution.
The reform introduced a parliamentary system, replacing the election of the head of state by universal suffrage with a largely ceremonial presidency elected by parliament for a four-year term. Critics, including opposition and civil society groups, have condemned the overhaul as a strategy by President Faure Gnassingbe to retain power indefinitely. Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005 after succeeding his father, is now set to become the president of the council of ministers, which would allow him to stay in control as long as his party, the Union for the Republic (UNIR), maintains a majority in the national assembly.
Under the previous constitution, Gnassingbe could only run for the presidency one more time in 2025. However, with the reform in place, the president’s role will be symbolic, while the real power will rest with the prime minister and parliament. The new constitution also sets up a Senate, a plan originally envisioned in 2002 but never enacted. On February 2, two-thirds of the 91 Senate seats will be elected by regional and municipal councilors, who were chosen in April, while the remaining third will be directly appointed by the president.
Candidates for the Senate will be able to campaign between January 17 and 31, with the government stating that the changes to the constitution will ensure greater representation for the people. However, the opposition remains wary of the reforms, arguing that they entrench Gnassingbe’s grip on power. The president’s party, UNIR, which won a dominant 108 out of 113 seats in the April legislative elections, is expected to retain its control in the new parliamentary system. The presidency defends the reform as a step toward more inclusive governance, though opposition protests against the changes have been stifled, with political rallies banned since 2022.
Once the Senate is in place, Togo will officially transition into a “fifth republic” under the new constitutional framework. Despite the government’s assurances, critics fear the reform could further entrench authoritarian rule in Togo, as Gnassingbe’s continued influence remains assured. The new Senate, which will be responsible for reviewing legislation before it reaches the national assembly, is a critical component of the overhaul, solidifying Gnassingbe’s political legacy and his party’s dominance in the country’s governance.
