Former Togo Defence Minister and outspoken government critic, Marguerite Gnakadé, has been arrested by security forces, according to police and media reports.
Gnakadé, the sister-in-law of President Faure Gnassingbé, was detained at her home in Lomé on Wednesday. Security sources told AFP that she was being held for “serious acts,” including a recent public appeal in which she urged the military to support the people in ending decades of dynastic rule.
Her arrest comes amid escalating protests across Togo, where demonstrators are demanding Gnassingbé’s resignation and the release of political prisoners. The president, who has been in power since 2005 after succeeding his father, has faced growing anger over constitutional reforms that extended his grip on power by creating a new role for him as President of the Council of Ministers—a post with sweeping executive authority and no term limits.
Gnakadé, widow of Ernest Gnassingbé, the late elder brother of the president, served as defence minister between 2020 and 2022. She was one of the first women to hold the post and was credited with improving the welfare of soldiers. In recent months, she had become a sharp critic of the regime, writing articles calling for a “peaceful, inclusive, and national transition” and voicing support for anti-government protests.
Local media reports suggest authorities are also probing her alleged ties to exiled opposition figures and claims that she attempted to incite disobedience within the armed forces. Security sources told the BBC that her detention has sparked unease in some military circles, given her past reforms that benefited soldiers.
If found guilty of inciting rebellion or threatening the stability of the armed forces, judiciary officials say she could face 10 to 20 years in prison.
Her arrest has drawn swift condemnation. Opposition coalition Touche Pas À Ma Constitution (Don’t Touch My Constitution) described it as an abuse of power, alleging that she was taken by “hooded” officers without a warrant. The group demanded her unconditional release, alongside other political detainees.
Meanwhile, the youth movement M66 issued a 72-hour ultimatum for her release, warning of nationwide demonstrations if she is not freed. “Togolese people are fed up with the arrests of dissident voices,” said Mokonzi, one of its leaders.
Togo has witnessed mounting unrest in recent months. In June, civil society groups reported that at least seven people were killed during a crackdown on protests against the president, though the government denied the deaths were protest-related.
Gnakadé’s detention marks a significant escalation in the standoff between Gnassingbé’s government and opposition forces, with the coming days likely to determine whether tensions spill into further unrest.
