2026-03-04

2026 Municipal Elections in France: Human rights start at the town hall...

On the occasion of World NGO Day on February 27 and the imminent approach of the municipal elections, the Human Rights Platform recalls, through this forum, that the protection of human rights begins at the municipal level. At each municipal election, the same themes come up: security, schools, cleanliness, local taxes, transport, housing. We talk about management, budgets, priorities. But we often forget to name what connects all these public policies: human rights.

2025-12-13

Guinea-Bissau: 17 West African civil society organizations call on ECOWAS to promptly release the election results

On the eve of the 68th ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), scheduled for this Sunday, 14 December 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, we, the organisations and movements of civil society in West Africa, are deeply concerned about the political situation in Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover on 26 November 2025. What has occurred in this country cannot be termed a "coup d'état"; it is a state conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Umaro Sissoco Embaló. We firmly denounce this cynical and unjust collusion between the outgoing president and the armed forces, which has severely undermined the official publication of the ballot results.

2025-10-22

Togo: The 48 Gen Z activists must be released

Since June 5, 2025, at least 133 young Togolese activists who have spoken out or gathered peacefully to voice civic demands have been arbitrarily arrested - 48 of whom remain in detention. Twenty national and international civil society organizations are now calling for their immediate and unconditional release and expressing deep concern over the closing civic space in Togo since the establishment of the Fifth Republic.

2025-10-18

Press release from Tournons La Page Côte d’Ivoire on the socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire

Tournons La Page Côte d’Ivoire (TLP-CI), a civil society organization working in the field of human rights, freedoms, and democracy, is closely monitoring the contrasting situation currently prevailing on the Ivorian political scene. Indeed, while joy and cheerfulness can be seen on the faces of some citizens who are actively participating in the presidential election campaign, other populations—particularly those whose leaders have been excluded from the political race—are facing various forms of repression and persecution, which unfortunately sometimes result in material damage, physical harm, and even loss of life.

2025-10-03

General Assembly: Tournons La Page renews its leadership and reaffirms its commitment to democracy

From September 22 to 24, 2025, Tournons La Page (TLP) held its General Assembly in Dakar, bringing together representatives from around fifteen countries in Africa and Europe. This meeting confirmed the vitality of our movement and the strength of a universal civic commitment to democracy.

2025-07-28

Annual report 2024

In 2024, Tournons La Page celebrated its tenth anniversary. A decade of struggles, mobilizations and commitment to democratic alternation. We have reached this symbolic milestone with the strength of a movement rooted in sixteen countries, supported by more than 260 member organizations and united by a shared conviction: democracy is not a luxury, but a vital necessity. However, the year 2024 has not been easy. It is part of a cycle of political instability that is weakening the African continent and the world. Military transitions have multiplied, often justified in the name of a desire to break away, but too often resulting in the regression of freedoms and the closure of civic space.

2025-07-09

Guinea – One year after their enforced disappearance, Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah must be found: three international NGOs demand truth and transparency about their disappearance

One year ago, on July 9, 2024, two emblematic figures of Guinean civil society, Oumar Sylla, known as Foniké Menguè, and Mamadou Billo Bah, respectively coordinators of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) and the Tournons La Page movement (TLP-Guinea), were kidnapped without a warrant, in front of witnesses, by armed and hooded men identified as belonging to the Special Forces and the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN), at Oumar Sylla's home in Conakry. The next day, only Mohamed Cissé, another member of the FNDC, was released. He then publicly testified about the torture and transfer of the two activists to the island of Fotoba, a former colonial penal colony used as an informal detention centre.

2025-07-03

Togo: Statement of civil society organizations on the ECOWAS communiqué

We, the undersigned Togolese and African civil society organizations, have taken note of the ECOWAS communiqué dated June 30, 2025 regarding the situation in Togo. While we welcome the attention paid by the regional institution to the ongoing events in Togo, we express our deep disappointment at the serious shortcomings of this communiqué, which does not reflect either the complexity or the seriousness of the current political, institutional and security crisis in Togo.

2025-06-18

Togo: The reign of the permanent coup d'État

Since its independence in 1960, Togo's history has rhymed with coups d'état, whether military, constitutional, institutional or electoral. In January 1963, President Sylvanus OLYMPIO, father of independence, was assassinated in a military coup d'état. Among the ranks of the military putschists was the father of the current president, Etienne Gnassingbé ÉYADEMA. In 1967, the latter seized power through a new military coup d'état and established an implacable dictatorship until his death in 2005.

2025-05-01

Burundi: Challenge of women's political participation

In April 2015, the decision of the late President Nkurunziza to run for a third term as head of Burundi despite constitutional rules triggered a popular protest unprecedented in the history of the small country in the Great Lakes region. Since then, between the repression of pro-democracy voices and any political opposition, the persecution of human rights defenders and the closure of civic space, Burundi has not been able to get out of the rut.

2025-04-17

18 months of transition in Gabon: Renaissance or illusion ?

Since the change of power of control of institutions by the military led by Brigadier General Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, the new Gabonese authorities have announced their intention to fight corruption and improve governance. The event was greeted with scenes of popular jubilation, after 56 years of governance by the Bongo family.

2025-01-16

Guinea: Enforced disappearances in 2024 - Escalation and impunity

Since the military junta took power in Guinea on September 5, 2021, led by Mamadi DOUMBOUYA, the country's political and social situation has been marked by a concerning stalemate. Civil society and the most representative political parties have been systematically excluded from any sincere and inclusive dialogue framework. A consultation framework established by the government was rejected by the Forces Vives de Guinée, which view the process as biased and unrepresentative. Additionally, an agreement between the military government and ECOWAS, setting the end of the transition for December 2024, was unilaterally concluded without consulting the main stakeholders.

2025-01-16

Forced disappearances in Burundi : 10 years of silence

Since April 2015, Burundi has been facing a major political crisis triggered by the controversial candidacy of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza for a third term, violating both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution and the Arusha Accord. This accord, the cornerstone of peace after a decade of civil war, is founded on the principles of human rights and transitional justice, laying the groundwork for lasting peace and national reconciliation.

2024-12-13

Open letter : Call for ECOWAS reform for democracy and good governance

Tournons La Page, WADEMOS and AfrikaJom Center, three organizations committed to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and good governance in West Africa, send you this letter in recognition of your esteemed role in serving your nations. Your actions are essential for the defence of constitutionalism, the entrenchment of democratic norms and respect for the fundamental rights of the peoples you are called to serve.

2024-11-07

TLP/CERI Report: Why France's rejection in Africa?

The rejection of French politics in Africa runs deep, with the specter of Françafrique and enduring neocolonialism looming over the continent. In response to this reality, Tournons La Page, in partnership with the International Research Center (CERI) at Sciences Po, conducted a study to provide insights into this pressing question: What does the rejection of France in Africa signify? A total of 470 civil society actors were surveyed across six French-speaking African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Niger, and Chad. This distrust towards France and its policies was assessed using a range of indicators, including healthcare, education, security, anti-corruption efforts, and the defense of democracy.

2024-06-06

"Shots of joy" and democracy in tears: citizen observation report on the Chadian presidential election of May 6, 2024

On May 6, 2024, more than 8 million Chadian men and women were called to the polls for the first round of the presidential election. This report highlights, through specific examples, the numerous incidents of political violence and irregularities that marred the electoral process. These incidents were documented by Tournons La Page Chad (TLP-Chad) during their impartial and independent observation of the presidential election, carried out to verify that the process was democratic, genuine and representative of the will of the Chadian people. The report highlights serious problems, including the deaths of several dozen people, including one candidate, the exclusion of several candidates, problems updating the electoral roll, low participation by women, the impossibility of accessing results by polling station, and a severe deterioration in freedom of expression and of the press.

2023-12-15

The Point for Freedom and Democracy - ECOWAS urged to review supplementary protocol

The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) and Tournons La Page have called for the review of the ECOWAS supplementary protocol. The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) made the call during a press conference held at a local hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.

2023-12-14

Blueprint - Sanction regime against violations of term elongation – WADEMOS, TLP, others tell ECOWAS

The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), in collaboration with Tournons La Page (TLP) and other civic and pro-democracy actors have called on ECOWAS to sanction regime against violations of the protocol beyond the unconstitutional changes in government to cover other issues like term elongation in the revised Supplementary Protocol.

2023-12-04

Policy and legislative mechanisms for promoting presidential term limits within ECOWAS

This study was written, at TLP’s request, by the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL), a partner association based in South Africa, whose work focuses on the development of constitutionalism and democracy in African countries. It is the result of several months’ research and analysis by members of the ANCL, including judges, lawyers, academics, activists, NGOs, research institutes and academics.

2023-08-25

RFI - Elections in Gabon expected to maintain Bongo family's grip on power

Gabon goes to the polls on Saturday for general elections that the ruling party and its leader, President Ali Bongo Ondimba, are once again expected to win. The Bongo family has controlled the country's politics since the 1960s and is determined to hold on to power, as recent intimidation tactics demonstrate.