LOMÉ, Togo (BN24) — Former Togo Defence Minister Marguerite Gnakadé, the sister-in-law of President Faure Gnassingbé and one of the most prominent critics within the ruling family, has been arrested after publicly urging the military to side with the people and bring an end to more than half a century of dynastic rule.
Security sources confirmed Thursday that Gnakadé was detained at her home in Lomé by security forces who accused her of “serious acts,” including inciting the armed forces to rebellion. Local media reported that she was taken into custody on Wednesday evening and is currently being interrogated by authorities.
Family ties and defiance
Gnakadé is the widow of Ernest Gnassingbé, the late elder brother of the president, and served as Togo’s defence minister from 2020 to 2022, becoming one of the first women to hold the post. Her calls for her brother-in-law’s resignation, published in recent articles and repeated at public gatherings, represent a rare fracture within the powerful ruling family.
In recent months, she has demanded a “peaceful, inclusive and national transition” to replace Gnassingbé’s leadership. She also supported youth-led demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.
Dynasty under strain
Gnassingbé, in power since 2005, inherited the presidency from his father, Gnassingbé Éyadéma, who ruled Togo for 38 years. Together, the family has maintained a grip on power for nearly six decades.
The president was sworn in earlier this year as head of a newly created Council of Ministers, a constitutional shift that critics say allows him to extend his dominance indefinitely. The move sparked protests across the country, with demonstrators demanding his resignation and the release of political prisoners.
Civil rights groups say at least seven people were killed in June after security forces cracked down on protests. Authorities have denied that the deaths were linked to demonstrations.
Protest groups demand release
The arrest of Gnakadé has galvanized opposition parties and civil society organizations. Touche Pas A Ma Constitution, a prominent rights group, condemned what it described as a “hooded” abduction carried out without a warrant.
“Once again, this is an abuse of power that characterises the regime’s retrograde practices. The aim is to silence a dissenting voice,” the group said in a statement, demanding her immediate release.
M66, a youth-led movement, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to authorities, warning that mass protests would erupt if Gnakadé is not freed. “Togolese people are fed up with arrests of dissident voices,” said Mokonzi, one of the group’s leaders. “What is worse is that she is a former defence minister and the Togolese armed forces are doing nothing.”
Tense reaction within the military
While officials accuse Gnakadé of trying to destabilize the armed forces through alleged contacts with exiled opposition figures, some security sources admitted discomfort over her detention.
“There is general unease in the barracks, because she had improved working and living conditions for soldiers when she was defence minister,” one source told the BBC.
If formally charged, Gnakadé could face 10 to 20 years in prison under laws against undermining state security.
The coming days are expected to bring clarity on the charges, but her detention has already become a flashpoint in Togo’s escalating political crisis.
