Security forces in Togo blocked a protest on Saturday aimed at ending the 58-year rule of President Faure Gnassingbé and his family. The demonstration was organized by opposition parties and civil groups in the capital city of Lomé. The government has not yet commented on the actions taken to block the protest. The protest was intended to express public dissatisfaction with the Gnassingbé dynasty's long-standing grip on power. President Gnassingbé has been in office since 2005, succeeding his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo for 38 years prior. The opposition coalition stated their intention to march through the city center to voice grievances. Reports from Saturday indicated a heavy security presence in Lomé, with police and military personnel deployed to prevent gatherings. Organizers had announced the protest several days in advance, calling for democratic reforms and a transition of power. The specific reasons for Saturday's blockading of the protest by security forces were not immediately clear, according to the Bloomberg report.
