Togo police block CNCC convoy, seize phones
CNCC leaders faced roadblocks and detentions on their way to a meeting near Tsévié on November 8.
Police and gendarmes blocked a convoy carrying Cadre national de concertation pour le changement (CNCC) leaders on the national road no. 1 near Tsévié on Sunday, November 8. The blockade lasted over an hour and a half, with officials offering no justification for the action.
During the incident, phones were confiscated, and a delegation led by municipal councilor Emmanuel Avognon was taken to the gendarmerie in Tsévié. Activist Nadia Touré was also detained. Professor David Dosseh, en route to join them, missed the meeting. Organizers reported that a mayoral authorization for the meeting had been delayed for six weeks.
This event follows similar disruptions to a CNCC meeting in Vogan. The CNCC's ability to hold meetings is questioned despite the president's remarks on the need for opposition in Togo.
Why it mattersThe meeting of the CNCC, an opposition group, was obstructed by authorities, affecting their ability to assemble and express their views.