Togo Parliament approves contested constitutional reform days before elections

Togo's parliament has approved constitutional amendments that shift the country's political system from a presidential to a parliamentary one. This change allows lawmakers to elect the president instead of the population, potentially enabling President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his mandate beyond the current constitution's limit of one term. The opposition parties have criticized this reform, arguing that it is designed to keep Gnassingbe in power. The new constitution was initially adopted on March 25 and faced backlash from the opposition, leading President Gnassingbe to call for further consultations and a second parliamentary vote.