Togo’s political crisis deepened this week following the arrest of former defence minister Marguerite Gnakadé, a high-profile critic of President Faure Gnassingbé’s government and a member of the ruling family by marriage. According to security sources, Gnakadé, who recently called for Gnassingbé’s resignation and urged the military to support citizens in ending decades of dynastic rule, was arrested at her residence in Lomé by security forces on Wednesday. Police sources told AFP that her detention was linked to “serious acts, including her recent public appearance inciting the military to rebellion.”
The arrest comes at a time of heightened unrest across Togo, where waves of protests have swept through the capital and other cities in recent months, fuelled by anger at the regime’s six decades of family rule. Faure Gnassingbé has been in power since 2005, succeeding his father, Gnassingbé Éyadéma, who governed the West African nation for 38 years. The family’s prolonged dominance, coupled with a new constitutional framework that entrenches Gnassingbé’s authority, has sparked fresh outrage. In May, he was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers, the most powerful office in Togo’s executive branch. The position has no term limits, further extending his hold on power and igniting fears of indefinite rule.
Marguerite Gnakadé, who served as defence minister between 2020 and 2022, has emerged as one of the most prominent voices challenging the government from within the ruling family circle. A widow of Ernest Gnassingbé, the late elder brother of the current president, she was one of the first women to hold such a strategic government portfolio. In recent months, she has published articles and delivered strong public statements demanding that Faure Gnassingbé step aside to allow for what she described as a “peaceful, inclusive, and national transition.” Her outspoken stance has won support among opposition groups and civil society movements, particularly at a time when youth-led protests are gaining momentum across the country.
Local media reported that Gnakadé is currently being interrogated by the authorities, with possible charges tied to alleged links with exiled opposition figures and accusations of attempting to incite disobedience within the armed forces. Security and judicial sources indicated that she could face charges carrying prison terms of 10 to 20 years if found guilty of actions deemed to undermine the stability of the military institution. Her arrest immediately went viral across social media platforms, amplifying public anger and further energising calls for nationwide demonstrations.
Opposition parties and civil society groups quickly condemned the detention. Touche Pas A Ma Constitution, a prominent activist organisation, issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the arrest as unlawful, claiming that hooded security operatives carried it out “without a warrant.” The group described the move as another example of the regime’s authoritarian practices, aimed at silencing dissenting voices. They demanded her unconditional release along with the release of all political prisoners currently detained. Meanwhile, M66, a youth-driven protest movement, gave authorities a 72-hour ultimatum to free Gnakadé or face a new wave of mass protests.
The political climate in Togo has already been marked by deadly crackdowns. In June, at least seven people were killed during demonstrations demanding Gnassingbé’s resignation, according to civil rights groups, which reported that bodies were later recovered from rivers in Lomé. The government denied that the deaths were linked to the protests, but the reports intensified mistrust between citizens and authorities. With Gnakadé’s arrest, the situation risks spiralling further, as she is not only a former senior official but also a symbolic figure whose criticism carries weight due to her family ties to the ruling dynasty.
As the country awaits further clarity on the charges against her, analysts warn that the arrest could escalate an already volatile situation. With growing frustration over the concentration of power in the presidency, a collapsing social contract, and allegations of repression, Togo appears to be on the brink of a deeper political crisis. The detention of Marguerite Gnakadé, a former defence minister and outspoken critic from within the Gnassingbé family, highlights both the fragility of the regime and the determination of a rising movement demanding democratic change in the West African nation.
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