Faure Gnassingbé Becomes First Prime Minister of Togo After Constitutional Reform
Togo's Landmark Transition: Faure Gnassingbé Takes Power as First Prime Minister Following Controversial Shift to Parliamentary Governance
- Faure Gnassingbé becomes Togo's first Prime Minister after a shift to a parliamentary system
- New constitution redefines power
- Opposition criticizes the reform
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé has taken the oath of office as the inaugural Chairman of the Council of Ministers, marking the highest executive role in the country following a controversial shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system.
This pivotal change ushers in a new era of governance for Togo, a small West African nation that has been under the control of the Gnassingbé family for nearly six decades.
The constitutional reform, passed despite widespread opposition and public protest, has restructured the nation’s political framework. Executive power is now vested in the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, relegating the presidency to a ceremonial position.
In a parallel move, the Togolese National Assembly elected Jean-Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové, a former Minister of Trade and seasoned opposition leader, as President of the Republic. However, his role is now purely symbolic, devoid of executive authority.
The reform, which was ratified in April 2024 and came into effect in May, mandates that the Chairman of the Council of Ministers be selected from the majority party in Parliament. Gnassingbé’s Union for the Republic (UNIR) party currently controls 108 out of 113 parliamentary seats, following controversial elections widely criticized as fraudulent.
Opponents argue that this overhaul is a strategic move by Gnassingbé to prolong his grip on power, particularly as his final presidential term under the previous system nears its conclusion in 2025.
Critics, including Professor Aimé Gogué of the opposition Alliance for Democracy and Integral Development, claim that the reform allows Gnassingbé to remain in control indefinitely, bypassing democratic processes.
The reform has sparked fierce condemnation from opposition parties and civil society groups, both in Togo and internationally, who decry it as an undemocratic attempt to entrench authoritarian rule.
Gnassingbé, who assumed power in 2005 following the death of his father, longtime ruler Gnassingbé Eyadéma, now faces the challenge of navigating the new political landscape while maintaining control amid increasing calls for democratic accountability and opposition reform.
