Lome, TOGO (AP)-In the courtyard of the family where Jacques Komi Koutoglo used to play football with his cousin in the neighborhood of a working class To go The capital of is now silent. The ball he once kicked and kicked is next to a bundle of firewood.
“Jacks died for Togo,” his uncle, Kotoglo Kosi Mavuli quietly said, heavy eyes with grief.
The 15 -year -old is one of the many people who died while dying Collective protests In the West African nation against constitutional changes that many fears will cement the Gunsingbe’s grip to power to the President – and will prolong a ruling dynasty that has exceeded half a century.
The 59 -year -old Gansingbe, who ruled his father since 2005, was sworn in Ministers’ council In May. The Executive Body was built with a very low notice by a Parliament last year, which was over, and Ganasingbe signed a constitutional change despite rapidly public outrage. The new role has no word limit, and the gansingbe can remain indefinitely.
Local civil society group and social media affected Was called a protest last month After Government announced a clampdown on protestsMany young Togole are taking inspiration from recent rebellions in West Africa, where young movements challenged crimes.
Koutoglo had just completed the secondary school and was eagerly waiting for the results of the examination. He had dreams of becoming a footballer and spent the evening to practice his move. He often helped his uncle’s cafeteria during school breaks.
On the morning of 26 June, the day of protest, he disappeared.
“Since our family complex is big and full of cousins, we assumed that he was with someone else,” Mavli said. But when the evening came and the boy did not come back, dishonesty turned into nervousness.
The next day, a fisherman discovered a body floating in a lagoon in a hundred meter (yard) from his house. The family reached the spot. This was Koutoglo. His face was hurt, and bleeding from his nose.
“He did not go to any rally,” Mavli said. “He must have been nervous when he used to hear tear gas and gun tip. He got caught in anarchy.”
Civil society groups say at least five people, including Cotogl, were injured during demonstrations, and accused security forces of arbitrary arrests, attacking citizens with baton and ropes and robbing or barbarizing private property.
In the neighborhood of Koutoglo’s Koutoglo, a densely populated and historically resting part, witnesses described the security forces pursuing the youth, even in private homes.
“They came to our courtyard. They removed the gas. They defeated people,” a neighbor said that a neighbor spoke on the condition of anonymity not to print for fear of reprimand.
Koutoglo was rapidly buried, in line with local customs for those who died violently. Other victims were taken to the morgue.
Koutoglo’s uncle said that the family intends to suppress the allegations and demand an independent investigation into his nephew’s death.
He said, “You cannot kill our children and expect us to remain silent. We are tired.”
Civil society groups said that the justice system has not made any arrests and has not requested the body examination.
He said in a statement, “These acts, marked with inexplicable cruelty, the amount of a state crime. The criminals hit without restraint and were killed without any distinction,” he said in a statement.
In a statement on the state’s television, the Togo government admitted that the bodies were recovered from the Lake Bè Lagoon and Akodessewa, but said the victims died due to drowning. The government said that there would be another investigation.
Across Togo, Koutoglo’s name has been included in a long list of younger life less during the moments of national stress.
“This is not the first time,” Mavli said. “Back in 2017, children also died. It never changes anything. But this time, we refuse to remain silent.”
In 2017 and 2018, Mass protest challenged the long rule of President Fore Gansingbe. A government crackdown released at least 16 dead, including teenagers.
For those still protesting, Mavuli sent a message of solidarity: “Don’t leave. This fight is for our children. For Jacques. For all of us.”
New protests are planned for 16 and 17 July.
A researcher from Amnesty International Fabian Offer said Togo has a “oppressive architecture”, which has normalized arbitrary arrest, beating and impurities.
“They are regular now,” they said. “And the lack of global response only deepens the crisis.”
Government spokesperson Gilbert Bawra defended the state’s approach. He told reporters that recent constitutional changes followed appropriate procedures, and dismissed allegations of systemic misuse.
“If there are complaints, they should be addressed through valid channels,” he said.
But with the opposition data bypassing, the ruling party and widely seen in the elections, stating that critics say that these channels provide very little hope.
Eric Kagalan, Associated Press