Togo: Towards the first senatorial elections, CENI publishes a provisional list of 92 candidates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of Togo unveiled on Friday, January 10, 2025, a provisional list of 92 candidates for the country’s first-ever senatorial elections, scheduled for February 15, 2025. These elections will mark a significant step forward in the transition to the 5th Republic.
According to the details provided, the candidates are distributed as follows: 41 in the Maritime region, including the Greater Lomé area, 23 in the Plateaux, 10 in the Central region, and 9 in each of the Kara and Savanes regions. Among these candidates, 40 are from the ruling party Union for the Republic (UNIR), while the remaining 52 belong to opposition parties such as CAR, ADDI, NET, and UFC, as well as independent groups.
However, female representation remains low, with only 17 women running compared to 75 men, highlighting a notable gender imbalance in political equality. The elections will elect 41 senators to represent the 39 prefectures of the country. In addition, 20 senators will be directly appointed by the president, in accordance with the Constitution, bringing the total number of seats to 61.
Before becoming final, the provisional list will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which will have 72 hours to rule on the validity of the candidacies based on the compliance of the submitted files. These first-ever senatorial elections, set against the backdrop of institutional reform, represent a crucial step for Togo.
They aim to strengthen local governance and establish the Senate as a new legislative chamber, in line with the aspirations of the 5th Republic.
The publication of this provisional list officially opens the door to the electoral campaign, which promises to be a decisive moment for the country’s political actors and a test of the Togolese commitment to democracy.
