Togo: Thousands protest opposition arrests

Thousands of Togolese opposition supporters held a protest on Thursday to demand the release of members of their coalition arrested over two fires in the west African nation in January.

Two key markets were ravaged by fire in January, causing millions of dollars in damage and leading to the arrest of a prominent opponent of President Faure Gnassingbe.

Jean-Pierre Fabre and another opposition official, Abass Kaboua, were released from jail after being charged for conspiring to start the fires, but 24 other suspects remain in custody.

Fabre and ex-prime minister Agbeyome Kodjo took part in Thursday’s peaceful protest during which participants chanted anti-government slogans.

“By this protest, we are demanding the immediate release of all our activists arrested arbitrarily in connection with the market fire outbreaks. We are not involved in this matter,” coordinator of the “Let’s Save Togo” opposition coalition, Zeus Ajavon, told AFP.

The coalition has held a string of protests in recent months seeking sweeping electoral reform and demanding Gnassingbe’s departure. Many have been dispersed with tear gas.

Gnassingbe was installed by the military in 2005 after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema who ruled Togo for 38 years. He went on to win elections in 2005 and 2010 which are disputed by the opposition.

Togo was due to hold parliamentary elections before the end of last month, but the polls have been delayed and a new date has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile on Thursday employees at hospitals and schools began a 48-hour strike to press for significant salary increases.