On 12 January, the poet and human rights defender Sokpor Sitsopé Honoré, also known as Affectio, was arrested. This human rights advocate, known for his engaged posts on Facebook, was accused of undermining the internal security of the state. According to witnesses of his arrest, Mr Honoré was the victim of an ambush set by plainclothes police at the “La Pampa” crossroads in Adidogomé, Lomé. They reportedly assaulted him violently before taking him away.

On 14 January 2025, Sitsopé Sokpor was presented to the public prosecutor at the Lomé High Court. The Chief Investigating Judge quickly opened a judicial inquiry and charged him with “undermining the internal security of the state.” The following day, a detention order was issued, leading to his incarceration at Lomé Civil Prison.

The charges against Sitsopé Sokpor appear to be linked to his Facebook posts, particularly a poem titled “Do Your Part.” In this text, he expresses a cry against arbitrariness and oppression, calling on his fellow citizens to act to crack “the walls of this austere power and break the chains of injustice.”

AfricTivistes strongly condemns this blatant violation of the current Constitution of Togo, adopted last year, which guarantees the free communication of opinions in writing or through images in Article 5. Mr Honoré’s arrest also contravenes Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), as well as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The incarceration of this activist and poet, critical of the Togolese government, raises significant concern among Togolese civil society organisations (CSOs) and all human rights defenders. It represents yet another violation of the fundamental rights of citizens.

To recall, on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, following the first adoption of the new Constitution of Togo transitioning from a presidential to a parliamentary regime, a press conference organised by opposition parties and civil society organisations was interrupted and dispersed by around thirty gendarmes armed with batons, under the pretext that the organisers lacked the necessary permits. This constitutes a manifest infringement of the freedom of assembly.

In 2021, the police had already dispersed supporters of the Pan-African National Party (PNP) with tear gas as they attempted to gather in the capital to demand political reforms. As the presidential election of 22 February 2020 approached, the Togolese state adopted several laws restricting the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which allowed them at that time to ban national opposition demonstrations.

Freedom of expression is not spared in this grim picture of human rights. In December 2021, Ferdinand Ayité, Joël Egah, and Isidore Kouwonou were prosecuted for contempt of authority, spreading false statements.. in a country where press offences were decriminalised in 2004. During the same period, the activist Fovi Katakou was also arrested at his home. 

Regarding freedom of expression, activist Foly Satchivi was arrested on 22 August 2018 while preparing to hold a press conference. In January 2019, the Lomé District Court sentenced him to 36 months in prison for “rebellion,” “apology for crimes and offences,” and “aggravated disturbance of public order.”

On 15 October 2021, pro-democracy activists from Tournons la page (TLP) Niger and TLP Côte d’Ivoire were not allowed to enter Togo, in total violation of the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of people.

On 4 April 2018, Assiba Johnson, president of the African Youth Group for Democracy and Development (REJADD), was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison for disseminating false information and contempt towards state representatives after publishing a report on the repression of protests in 2017–2018.

AfricTivistes, as an organisation promoting participatory democracy and respect for human rights, warns the Togolese authorities against possible censorship and restrictions on freedoms of assembly, demonstration, expression and freedom of press.

While joining the many voices that have expressed their outrage and concerns regarding the detention of a pro-democracy activist, AfricTivistes calls on the Togolese authorities, in accordance with the country’s fundamental charter, to uphold the foundations of the rule of law and to cease the threats and persecutions against pro-democracy citizens.

AfricTivistes remains in solidarity with the Togolese people and their aspirations for democratic governance for a sustainable development.