Togo leader’s sister-in-law arrested after calling for end to Gnassingbé rule

The former defense minister and the voice critic of the Togo government, Marguerite Gnakadé, were arrested, according to security sources.

Gnakadé, the leader of the leader’s wife, has long called on Faure Gnassingbé to resign and urged the army to stand with people to end decades of family rule.

“She was arrested due to serious actions, including her last year’s appearance, inciting the army to rebel,” a police source told news agency. Local media reported that they were arrested by the security forces in her home in the capital, Lumi, on Wednesday.

Togo was recently seized through the fatal protests calling for Gnassingbé to resign from political prisoners and release them.

The protests came amid popular anger and increasing fatigue with a family -run -up system that was in power for six decades. Gnassingbé, who has led the country since 2005, is behind his father Gnassingbé éyadéma, who has ruled for 38 years since 1967.

A new constitutional structure allowed Grazingby to prolong his power with a transformation into a new role as Prime Minister providing protests.

Gnassingbé was in the right -wing Mayo in the new position, the highest position in the government’s executive branch and has no official limits.

In recent months, Gnakadé wrote articles criticizing Gnassingbé, including the call to resign and make way for “peaceful, comprehensive and national transition”. It has also supported the protests against his leadership.

GNAKADE, Ernest’s widow, Jnassingbé, the late brother of Faure Gnassingbé, as Minister of Defense from 2020 to 2022.

It was one of the first women to occupy such a strategic government position, and its audio criticism of the government was a major shift.

Her detention news was viral on social media.

It is currently being interrogated by the authorities. Some reports indicate that the charges against them are linked to alleged relations with the exiled opposition figures and attempts to incite disobedience within the armed forces.

One of the security sources told the BBC that there is “a general discomfort in the barracks with some people against her arrest, because she helped improve the living conditions of the soldiers and live when she was the defense minister.”

Some sources indicate that they may be accused of actions that can endanger the military establishment.

These allegations will be serious crimes if they are proven, and according to judicial sources, they may face the prison ranging from 10 to 20 years if convicted.

The coming days are expected to provide more clarity regarding the exact reasons for the arrest of Gnakadé.

On Wednesday, a group of opposition parties and the civil society group condemned Touch Pas A MA (do not touch a constitutional), saying that it was implemented by the convincing “security officers” without a judicial order.

“Once again, this is an abuse of power that distinguishes system practices back. The goal is to silence an opposition voice,” he said in a statement.

The group called for its immediate release without conditions, as well as freedom for all those who are being held for their political opinions.

A movement led by young people known as M66 also gave a 72 -hour warning demanding its release, warning that they would call for demonstrations at the country level if this is not done.

“The tired people are tired [the] Arrests of the voices of division. What is worse than that [Gnakadé] “The former minister of defense, and the armed forces, do nothing … will not surrender the movement despite all the threats,” said Mukonzi, one of the leaders of M66.

In June, at least seven people were killed during a protest campaign against Togolese leader. The bodies were recovered from rivers in the capital.

However, the government denied that deaths are linked to the protests.