Togo arrests Gnakadé after criticism
Former defence minister Marguerite Gnakadé, the sister-in-law of Togo’s long-serving leader Faure Gnassingbé, has been arrested in Lomé. Security officials confirmed the move, saying she faces charges of inciting rebellion after publicly urging the military to side with the people and end decades of family rule.
Reports indicate she was detained at her home on Wednesday by armed officers. Her arrest follows weeks of deadly protests demanding Gnassingbé step down and free political prisoners. Demonstrations have been fuelled by discontent with a regime that has ruled Togo for nearly 60 years.
Charges and possible sentence
Authorities claim Gnakadé encouraged disobedience within the armed forces and may have ties with exiled opposition figures. Judicial sources suggest she could face 10 to 20 years in prison if found guilty of endangering military stability. She is currently being interrogated.
Gnakadé, widow of Ernest Gnassingbé, served as defence minister between 2020 and 2022. Her outspoken criticism of the government marks a rare challenge from within the ruling family. Recently, she had written articles demanding Faure Gnassingbé resign and calling for a peaceful political transition.
Opposition and public reaction
News of her detention spread quickly on social media. Civil society group Touche Pas A Ma Constitution condemned the arrest as an abuse of power, saying security forces acted without a warrant. They demanded her immediate release, alongside all political detainees.
A youth movement, M66, has also issued a 72-hour ultimatum, warning of mass demonstrations if she is not freed. Protests in June already left at least seven people dead, though the government denies responsibility.
For many, the Togo arrests Gnakadé episode highlights both the fragility of the country’s politics and the growing calls to end a dynastic system that has dominated for generations.
