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The government of Togo has announced the suspension of the April 20 legislative elections until an unspecified later date.
This is coming, shortly after the lawmakers approved highly contested constitutional reform.
“Consultations” were needed, the presidency said in a statement, about the amendment in March that triggered opposition claims the reforms aimed to keep President Faure Gnassingbe in power in the West African nation with a population of nine million.
In office since 2005 after succeeding his father who seized the presidency in a coup 50 years ago, Gnassingbe has won every election though the opposition has claimed results were marred by irregularities.
After a week of tensions over the reform, Gnassingbe sent the law back to the National Assembly for a second reading with the opposition claiming a power grab to keep him in office longer.
“The National Assembly wished to have some days to engage in broad consultations with all stakeholders,” the statement said.
“Consequently, the government will conduct a slight rearrangement of the calendar of legislative and regional elections initially scheduled for April 20.”
The statement did not give a new date for the ballot.
Sources in Washington told AFP that US officials have asked Gnassingbe to ensure that the current situation is settled “peacefully and democratically.”
