Arrested daughter -in -law of Togo leader after calling for the end of the Gnassingbé rule

A former Minister of Defense and vocal critic of Togo Government Margerit Gnakade has been arrested, according to security sources.

Gnakade, the daughter -in -law of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe, recently called for his resignation and called on the military to stand with people at the end of the dynastic government.

“She was arrested for serious action, including her recent public appearance, which prompted the military to rebellion,” a police source told AFP news agency. Local media reported that she was arrested by security forces at her home in the capital Lome on Wednesday.

Recently, Togo was covered by deadly protests calling for Gnassingbe to resign and release political prisoners.

The protests came against the backdrop of popular anger and increasing fatigue with family regime, which has been in power for six decades. Gnassingbe, who has led the country since 2005, inherited his father Gnassingbe Eiadma, who has ruled 38 years since 1967.

A new constitutional structure that allowed Gnassingbé to extend its power in power, while transferring to a new role as president of the Council of Ministers, further nourishes the protests.

Gnassingbé was in May a sworn in the new position, which is the highest position in the government’s executive branch and has no official fixed -term restrictions.

In recent months, Gnakadé has written articles criticizing Gnassingbé, including his call to resign and make a way for a “peaceful, inclusive and national transition”. She also supported the protests against his leadership.

Gnakade, the widow of Ernest Gnassingbe, the late more foure brother of Faure Gnassingbe, serves as Minister of Defense from 2020 to 2022.

She was one of the first women to occupy such a strategic position of the government, and her voice criticism of the government came as a significant change.

The news of her arrest became viral on social media.

She is currently being questioned by the authorities. Some reports suggest that the allegations against her are related to suspected links with exposure figures and attempts to incite disobedience within the armed forces.

A source of security told the BBC that there was “general discomfort in barracks with some people against its arrest, as it helped improve the working and life of soldiers when she was the Minister of Defense.”

Some sources show that it may be accused of actions that could endanger the stability of a military institution.

These allegations would be serious crimes, if proven, and according to the sources of the judiciary, it may encounter a prison of 10 to 20 years, if found guilty.

The next days are expected to give more clarity more about the exact reasons for the arrest of Gnakade.

On Wednesday, grouping of opposition parties and a civil society group, the Touche Pas a Ma Constitution (do not touch my constitution), condemned its arrest, stating that it had been committed by “hooded staff” without order.

“Once again, this is an abuse of power that characterizes the regime’s retrograde practices. The goal is to silence a disagree voice,” a statement said.

The group demanded her immediate release without conditions, as well as freedom for all who were detained for their political opinions.

A youth-led movement, known as the M66, also gave a 72-hour ultimatum requiring its release, warning that they would call for national demonstrations if this was not done.

“The Togol people feed on () the arrests of the dissident voices. The worse is that (Gnakade) is a former defense minister, and Togos’s armed forces do nothing … The movement will not refuse, despite all the threats,” Mokons said, one of the leaders of the M66.

In June, at least seven people were killed during a repression against protests against Togos leader, civil rights groups said. The bodies were restored by rivers in the capital.

However, the government denied death to be related to protests.