In Togo, the opposition leader, Agbéyomé Kodjo, has been arrested. Africa News reports that the former Togolese Prime Minister was arrested on Tuesday, April 21, at his home and taken to the gendarmerie’s Central Research and Criminal Investigation Service.

Prior to this, Mr Kodjo’s parliamentary immunity was lifted in mid-March at the request of the Lomé public prosecutor’s office, which accused him of proclaiming himself president of the Republic. This gave way for him to face criminal charges for disputing the re-election of President Gnassingbe.

What Are the Charges, Togo?

According to a statement by the public prosecutor, “the arrest of Mr Gabriel Messan Agbéyomé Kodjo was made necessary by the fact that having been invited on three occasions to report to the Central Service of Research and Criminal Investigation (SCRIC) for questioning in the context of the required judicial investigation, he deliberately refused to comply with these invitations on the pretext of his poor health, and then a legal action for annulment of the resolution of the National Assembly that lifted his immunity.”

His lawyers, however, posited his absence was due to ill-health. Specifically, he has been accused of “aggravated disturbances of public order and of undermining the internal security of the state.” The government of Togo also accused the opposition of plotting a coup d’état.

Who is Agbéyomé Kodjo?

Is the top opposition figure in Togo, he came second in the February 2020 elections while also winning his sit in parliament? With a long political history including being a President of the National Assembly in once and a Prime Minister, Mr Kodjo is the leader of the Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development (MPDD).

Human rights groups in Togo and beyond have called for his release and have condemned the use of force by security operatives in their attempt to arrest him.