Lomé: In Africa, periods of unrest and protests are often fraught with internet restrictions and shutdowns, like those Togo experienced in June. Since the enactment of the new Constitution of the Fifth Republic on May 6, 2024, and Faure Gnassingbé's inauguration as President of the Council on May 3, 2025, the Togolese population has become increasingly indignant. After all, the Gnassingbé family has ruled this country politically for almost 60 years.
According to Global Voices, on the night of June 5 to June 6, 2025, Togolese citizens took to the streets, primarily in Lomé, the capital of Togo. Although this first wave of demonstrations resulted in several arrests, even more people gathered in further protests on June 26, 27, and 28, 2025, resulting in at least seven deaths and dozens injured.
Just as the internet's mobilizing power was gaining momentum, the authorities decided to restrict and reduce internet connection speeds considerably. Various social networks struggled, reducing communications between the Togolese diaspora and those in the country itself. On the evening of June 28, 2025, the Internet Society Togo Chapter, a global charity working to close the digital divide, released a statement on the internet disruptions throughout June. A Togolese Internet Society representative stated that citizens have been in contact, warning about the lack of access to international news platforms.
The difficulties in accessing the internet in June also attracted the attention of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. According to an article by media outlet Togo Scoop, these researchers say these are indeed sophisticated restrictions. The incidents recorded by the Internet Society reflect the Togolese authorities' clear intention to stifle freedom of expression and deny people internet access.
Today, the internet is an integral tool in the work of thousands of professionals in Togo, who suffered huge losses during these internet restrictions and shutdowns. Following the popular uprising in August 2017, which Tikpi Atchadam, a member of the opposition and leader of the Pan African National Party (PNP), instigated, the Togolese people experienced a similar situation. The internet was cut off from September 5-10 and September 19-21, 2017.
In December 2018, with the support of international organizations like Amnesty International Togo, Togolese civil society organizations filed a complaint to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice. In June 2020, ECOWAS ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the Togolese government to pay each one FCFA 2 million (USD 3,583). This Togolese case, a first in the ECOWAS region, now serves as a landmark for this court and other national courts.
Around this time, Bonaventure Mawuvi NCoué, a civil society actor and member of the Media Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IM2DH), told news agency EcoFin that the message from Amnesty International Togo is clear: Just as Togolese citizens once again experience frustration over the violation of their internet rights, the authorities seem determined to continue their absolute control over internet access. However, some people have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to access news sites and social networks.