Thousands of people took to the streets of Lome on Wednesday to protest the autocratic rule of Togo President Faure Gnassingbe, who has ruled the former French colony since 2005. Guarded by police, gendarmerie and soldiers, demonstrators in the capital city demanded constitutional reforms, including a two-term presidential limit, as they held up posters saying “Faure must go now.” Government supporters marched through the streets of Lome earlier on Wednesday. The demonstrations come a day after the West African nation announced it will later this week hold a referendum on presidential term limits. National Assembly President Dama Darmani announced the referendum at a parliamentary session that was boycotted by the opposition.
