By Belinda Nketia
A chilling firsthand account of political unrest in Togo was shared this morning on the GTV Breakfast Show, hosted by veteran broadcaster Kafui Dey on 30th June 2025.
The interviewee, who is a resident in Togo and pseudonymously identified as Mr. Abalo on GTV’s Breakfast Show, was interviewed live via phone and granted the interview in French.
The conversation shed light on the ongoing protests, government crackdown, and widespread fear among ordinary citizens in the West African country.
Abalo confirmed the worsening situation and described the protests as part of a broader youth-led uprising that began weeks earlier. “Everything started with the arrest of an artist who went live on TikTok to denounce abuses of power and insulted the head of state,” he said. “The gendarmes came to his home to arrest him, which escalated tensions. From June 6, there were protests, and then again from June 26 to 27.”
He described how these protests have been met with brutal force. “Young people came out, and there was police repression. Some were beaten. You can see the videos on TikTok. It’s tense, but this morning, things are a bit calm.”
The show’s translator, James, helped summarize the account. He stated that the protests were initially a response to the arrest of the rapper but were rooted in last year’s constitutional changes. “It snowballed into this larger movement,” James said.
When asked whether there have been casualties or consequences for civil liberties, Mr. Abalo responded gravely: “The consequences are dire. People are no longer able to express themselves. When we want to denounce what is wrong through peaceful marches, we face repression. Today, even the legal right to protest is denied. You send a letter to protest, and you’re told no.”
Mr. Abalo added that this repression has become institutionalized. “They prevent people from speaking up. This is the direct effect of what is happening in the country today.”
Mr. Abalo tied the situation back to the constitutional reforms that, he argued, were designed to help the president stay in power indefinitely. “We wonder if we are in a democracy,” he said.
The most urgent part of Mr. Abalo’s testimony came when he issued a direct appeal for international support. According to the show’s translator, he stated that “there have been several human rights violations,” and urged that “the international community must intercede,” because what is unfolding in Togo amounts to a “constitutional coup.”
When asked if any Togolese citizens were fleeing across the border into Ghana, particularly between Lomé and Dapaong, Abalo said he had no current information on that.
The Interview ended with Mr. Abalo expressing gratitude to the show and its host. “Thank you for taking an interest in our news and what is happening here. It is in a spirit of solidarity,” he said.
Togo is Ghana’s immediate eastern neighbor. They have been experiencing political unrest since June 26, 2025. These were reportedly triggered by constitutional reforms widely believed to enable President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his stay in power indefinitely. According to reports, security forces have responded to the demonstrations with tear gas and rubber batons, leading to violent confrontations. Protesters have also blocked roads, erected barricades, and burned tyres in response to the state’s actions.
