Togo's presidents signs a law expected to extend his decades
LOME, Togo (AP) — Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has signed a controversial new constitution that eliminates presidential elections, a statement from his office said late Monday. It’s a move that opponents say will allow him to extend his family’s six-decade-long rule.
Under the new legislation, parliament will have the power to choose the president, doing away with direct elections. The election commission on Saturday announced that Gnassingbe’s ruling party had won a majority of seats in the West African nation’s parliament.
Ahead of the vote, there was a crackdown on civic and media freedoms. The government banned protests against the proposed new constitution and arrested opposition figures. The electoral commission banned the Catholic Church from deploying election observers. In mid-April, a French journalist who arrived to cover the elections was arrested, assaulted and expelled. Togo’s media regulator later suspended the accreditation process for foreign journalists.
Related articles
Chinese scientists create mutant Ebola virus to skirt around biosafety rules
Chinese scientists have engineered a virus with parts of Ebola in a lab that killed a group of hamst2024-05-07Cole Irvin throws 7 innings of 4
BALTIMORE (AP) — Cole Irvin scattered four hits over seven innings, Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountca2024-05-07Offensive depth has Rangers on verge of sweep, Avalanche and Oilers each up 2
Nine players have already scored for the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers, 10 for the Colorado A2024-05-07Sheffield United becomes first team relegated from EPL after heavy loss at Newcastle
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Sheffield United became the first team to be relegated from the English Pr2024-05-07A subset of Alzheimer's cases may be caused by two copies of a single gene, new research shows
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alz2024-05-07Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn and Zach Blair lead Zurich Classic of New Orleans
AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Former BYU teammates Patrick Fishburn and Zach Blair shot a 12-under 60 in bett2024-05-07
atest comment