The ECOWAS Commission has expressed its deep concern following the violent protests that rocked Togo on June 26, 27, and 28, 2025, especially in Lomé, the capital.
In a statement released on June 30 in Abuja, the regional organization deplores the loss of human lives and the material damage recorded during these disturbances.
Without advancing precise figures, ECOWAS calls for restraint, dialogue, and the preservation of political stability in the country. It reaffirms its solidarity with the victims and expresses its readiness to support the authorities and civil actors in peace-building efforts.
Two Beninese nationals found dead
Among the victims are two Beninese nationals, found lifeless in the waters of Agoè’s fourth lake, on the outskirts of Lomé. According to information gleaned from the Togo Debout Citizens Front, the two men, brothers from Benin, were arrested the night leading up to the protests, then went missing.
Their bodies were reportedly recovered without medical presence and repatriated and buried in Benin, without any official autopsy being performed.
Given the seriousness of the events, several Togolese civil society organizations are calling for independent investigations. Some even announce their intention to seize international mechanisms, notably the United Nations special rapporteurs on human rights matters.
An uncertain political context
These events take place in a delicate political context, marked by the resignation of the Togolese government in May 2025. Critical voices are now emerging within the presidential majority, fueling worries about a possible institutional crisis.
ECOWAS and the international community remain alert, while the Togolese population calls for a peaceful and democratic transition.