LOME, Feb 9, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Togo will hold legislative and regional 
elections on April 13, the government announced Thursday night on state 
television. 

President Faure Gnassingbe had vowed more than a year ago to hold polls 
within 12 months.

The last legislative elections, in 2018, were boycotted by the opposition, 
which denounced "irregularities" during the ballot.

The opposition hopes this time to challenge the ruling Union for the Republic 
(UNIR) party and has called for a registration drive.

Yawa Kouigan, communications minister, said that in accordance with the 
electoral code and the timetable proposed by the Independent National 
Electoral Commission, the elections would be held Saturday April 13, 2024.

The electoral campaign will take place from March 28 to April 11. 

As with previous elections, the defence and security forces will vote 72 
hours before to allow them to provide security on voting day.

In January, the Togolese National Assembly modified a law increasing the 
number of deputies for these legislative elections from 91 to 113. 

President Gnassingbe came to power in 2005 after the death of his father, 
General Gnassingbe Eyad,ma, who had ruled Togo for 38 years. He has since 
been re-elected three times in elections that were all contested by the 
opposition.