Togo records huge turnout at anti-govt protest despite internet setback

Togo

<p>Images from the Togolese capital, Lome, shows hundreds of thousands of citizens have turned out for the latest round of anti-government protest called by main opposition parties.</p> <p>An opposition leader, Jean-Pierre Fabre is quoted as describing the turnout as ‘unprecedented.’ Spokesperson for international rights group, Amnesty International put the figure at 100,000 according to <span class="caps">AFP</span>.</p> <p>A key activist Farida Nabourema even pegged estimates at a million people. The turnout comes despite two key actions by the government on Tuesday evening.</p> <p>Mobile internet was blocked particularly affecting social media networks – Whatsapp and Facebook. Wi-Fi access was available till Wednesday afternoon when it was also shut down.</p> <p>The government also initiated a cabinet decision to address a key section of the protesters demand, to place a limit on presidential term limits. Despite the move, politicians and activists say it is a ploy by Faure Gnaissengbe to buy time.</p> <p>Photos making the rounds on social media show people trooping from other parts of the country to join the protests whiles others also held protests in major towns.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Togolese in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ghana?src=hash">#Ghana</a> are also part of the revolution. Today in Nima <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ghana?src=hash">#Ghana</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Togoviwofon?src=hash">#Togoviwofon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogoDebout?src=hash">#TogoDebout</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Togo?src=hash">#Togo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/emmavitus"><code>emmavitus</a> <a href="https://t.co/VMhDMSyK4v">pic.twitter.com/VMhDMSyK4v</a></p>— Farida Nabourema (</code>Farida_N) <a href="https://twitter.com/Farida_N/status/905430365141118976">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We told you that by killing 7, all the 7 millions will rise. Faurevi it's time to go. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Togo?src=hash">#Togo</a> wants freedom. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Togoviwofon?src=hash">#Togoviwofon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Smith_JeffreyT"><code>Smith_JeffreyT</a> <a href="https://t.co/uzRzlBTnDy">pic.twitter.com/uzRzlBTnDy</a></p>— Farida Nabourema (</code>Farida_N) <a href="https://twitter.com/Farida_N/status/905423441465143298">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Leave, leave, leave. <br /> Leave the seat. The seat is not yours.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Togo?src=hash">#Togo</a> youths chant as they are rallying to the protest ground <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogoDebout?src=hash">#TogoDebout</a> <a href="https://t.co/akYgRMdqiT">pic.twitter.com/akYgRMdqiT</a></p>— Farida Nabourema (@Farida_N) <a href="https://twitter.com/Farida_N/status/905391950949482496">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is nothern city of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bafilo?src=hash">#Bafilo</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Togo?src=hash">#Togo</a> inhabited by 25,000 people. But look at the crowd. Even the smallest towns joined the revolution <a href="https://t.co/MggScBwuon">pic.twitter.com/MggScBwuon</a></p>— Farida Nabourema (@Farida_N) <a href="https://twitter.com/Farida_N/status/905405047420461056">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>