According to security sources, Marguerite Gnakadé, a former defence minister and outspoken critic of Togo’s government,
has been arrested.
Gnakadé, the sister-in-law of Faure Gnassingbé, recently demanded his resignation and urged the military to side with the people in ending decades of dynastic rule.
A police source disclosed to AFP that “she was arrested for serious acts, including her recent public appearance inciting the military to rebellion.”
Local media reported that security forces arrested her at her home in Lomé on Wednesday.
Togo is currently experiencing deadly protests calling for Gnassingbé to step down and free political prisoners.
The protests occurred amidst widespread anger and growing dissatisfaction with a family-run regime that has maintained power for six decades. Gnassingbé, who has led the country since 2005, succeeded his father Gnassingbé Éyadéma, who had ruled for 38 years from 1967.
A revised constitutional structure was implemented, granting Gnassingbé the opportunity to prolong his tenure while shifting into the role of President of the Council of Ministers, which served to further inflame the protests.
In May, Gnassingbé was sworn into the new position, representing the pinnacle of the government’s executive branch, unbound by term limits.
Gnakadé has written several critical articles about Gnassingbé in recent months, urging him to resign and make way for a peaceful, inclusive, and national transition.
Additionally, she has voiced support for protests against his leadership.
It is worth noting that Gnakadé, a widow of the late Ernest Gnassingbé, elder brother of Faure Gnassingbé, served as defence minister from 2020 to 2022.
As one of the first women to hold a strategic government position, her vocal criticism of the government represents a significant shift.
News of her arrest went viral on social media.
She is currently being questioned by the authorities.
Some reports suggest the charges against her are related to alleged connections with exiled opposition figures and attempts to incite disobedience within the armed forces.
As reported by a security source, there is a palpable sense of unease within the barracks concerning her arrest, given her contributions to improving soldiers’ working and living conditions as defence minister.
Some sources speculate that she may face accusations of actions that could destabilize the military institution.
Should these allegations be proven, they would constitute serious offences, potentially leading to imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years, as indicated by judiciary sources.
The upcoming days are anticipated to shed more light on the specific reasons surrounding Gnakadé’s arrest.
A grouping of opposition parties and the civil society group, Touche Pas A Ma Constitution (Don’t Touch My Constitution), censured her arrest on Wednesday, noting that it was undertaken by “hooded” security officers “without a warrant”.
In a statement, the group remarked, “This action exemplifies the abuse of power inherent to the regime’s retrograde practices, seeking to suppress a dissenting voice.”
A group is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Gnakadé, as well as the freedom of all individuals detained for their political views.
M66, a youth-led movement, has given a 72-hour ultimatum, warning of nationwide demonstrations if their demands are not met.
“The Togolese people are fed up with the arbitrary arrests of dissenting voices. What’s worse is that Gnakadé, a former defense minister, is being held while the Togolese armed forces do nothing…
The movement will persist despite the threats,” said Mokonzi, an M66 leader.
In June, at least seven people lost their lives during a crackdown on protests against the Togolese leader, according to civil rights groups. The bodies were found in rivers in the capital.
The government, however, has denied any link between the deaths and the protests.
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