LOME (AFP) – Togo’s security agents on Friday used teargas to abort a protest planned by a group of opposition women in the capital Lome.
Two opposition coalitions of political parties and civil society groups had called on their members to protest on Friday against alleged irregularities in the electoral process ahead of a parliamentary poll.
Authorities had last month banned all protests in Lome by the opposition after windows were broken and cars damaged in an earlier demonstration.
Policemen were on Friday deployed to six take-off points for the street march, reports and an AFP correspondent at the scene said.
A group of about 30 women who gathered were swiftly dispersed with teargas.
“We would not give up, we are ready to confront the security forces,” one of the protesters said.
“Authorities don’t have the right to stop us from protesting. We want free and transparent elections,” a young protester also said.
Togo’s main opposition parties on Wednesday said they would not register candidates for legislative elections expected next month as conditions for a fair vote were not in place.
Opposition leaders stopped short of saying they planned to boycott the poll, voicing hope that the government would agree to dialogue on sweeping political reforms before the vote.
The registration of candidates, which began on Monday, closes on June 10.
Togo has been ruled by the same family for more than four decades and past elections have been marred by allegations of widespread fraud.
The legislative polls had initially been slated for October, but were repeatedly pushed back by the government of President Faure Gnassingbe.
The election could be held next month, according to the electoral agency charged with organising it.
No exact date has been fixed yet for the poll.