Togo passes laws removing president's term limits

Togo's parliament has fixed last support to a caller constitution extending the President's term, aft critics denounced the determination arsenic a coup.

The West African state volition determination from a statesmanlike to a parliamentary system.

President Faure Gnassingbé's supporters reason the changes trim his powers by transforming the presidency into a ceremonial role.

But the absorption said the reforms region limits connected his enactment successful office.

Their removal would alteration him to stay president until 2031, they said, aft which helium would beryllium appointed to the caller presumption of "president of the assembly of ministers" - successful effect premier curate - continuing his family's 57-year rule.

President Gnassingbé came to powerfulness successful 2005 aft the decease of his father, who had been president since 1967.

The law changes were approved by lawmakers past month. But successful the look of mounting nationalist anger, Mr Gnassingbé paused the reforms and said they would beryllium taxable to further consultations.

Human Rights Minister Yawa Djigbodi Tségan had said that this determination volition "improve ideology successful the country".

But one-time statesmanlike campaigner Brigitte Kafui Johnson, who leads the absorption CDPA party, had described the law amendments arsenic a "power grab".

In caller weeks, pro-government lawmakers person conducted visits astir the state they said were intended to "listen to and pass civilians connected the law reform".

Customary rulers and selected groups were among the main people of the discussions - but nary changes were made arsenic a result.

There has been wide fearfulness erstwhile it comes to expressing views successful nationalist successful lawsuit they are targeted by the authorities successful airy of constabulary cracking down connected anti-government protests.

Last month, an absorption property league nether the banner of "Don't Touch My Constitution" was breached up by constabulary officers equipped with truncheons.