Togo closes borders on the eve of local elections

In Togo, the border crossings with Ghana, Beni, and Burkina Faso will remain closed until the end of Sunday’s elections.

The Togolese authorities announced this decision on the eve of the local elections, the first that the country has been organizing for more than 30 years.

Togo had not elected local councilors since 1987. Its local communities are headed by people nominated by the ruling party’s leaders.

The local elections take place two months after the adoption by the Togolese Parliament of a constitutional amendment allowing President Faure Gnassingbé, who has been in power since 2005, to run again twice in the presidential election.