Togo parliament don give final approval for a new constitution wey go extend di president term, after critics call di move coup.
Di West African kontri go move from a presidential to a parliamentary system.
President Faure Gnassingbé supporters argue say di changes reduce im powers by transforming di presidency into a ceremonial role.
But di opposition say di reforms remove limits on im stay in office.
Under di new system, di president go dey selected by parliament without debate for a single six-year term, rather dan being directly elected.
Dia removal go enable am to remain president until 2031, dem tok, after which e go dey appointed to di new position of “president of di council of ministers” – in effect prime minister – continuing im family 57-year rule.
President Gnassingbé enta power in 2005 afta di death of im father, wey don be president since 1967.
Di constitutional changes bin dey approved by lawmakers last month. But in di face of mounting public anger, Mr Gnassingbé pause di reforms and say dem go dey subject to further consultations.
Human Rights Minister Yawa Djigbodi Tségan bin say dis move go “improve democracy for di kontri”.
But one-time presidential candidate Brigitte Kafui Johnson, wey dey lead di opposition CDPA party, bin describe di constitutional amendments as “power grab”.
In recent weeks, pro-government lawmakers bin conduct visits around di kontri dem say to “listen to and inform civilians on di constitutional reform”.
Customary rulers and selected groups bin dey among di main target of di discussions – but dem no change anything as a result.
Fear bin full ground wen e come to expressing views in public in case authorities begin target you sake of police crack down on anti-government protests.
Last month, one opposition press conference under di banner of “Don’t Touch My Constitution” bin dey broken up by police officers wey dey armed.
Wetin to know about Faure Gnassingbe rise to power
Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema succeed in papa, wey die for 2005 afta ruling di kontri with iron hand for 38 years.
Di military put Faure Gnassingbe as president, but afta serious domestic and international pressure e call for elections. Hundreds of pipo die to challenge im victory for dat election.
Gnassingbe don win three more elections, for 2010, 2015 and 2020. All of di elections don dey criticised by di opposition, wey claim say wuru full am.
Constitutional changes for 2019 allow President Gnassingbe to seek re-election and to get chance to fit stay for office until 2030 – issue wey cause protests for 2017-18.
