Opposition leader casts vote in presidential election

Togolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre, who came in second in elections in 2010 and 2015, on Saturday cast his ballot in Togo's presidential election. Speaking to media after voting, Fabre criticised the preparations leading up to the election for not being transparent and fair.

The West African nation is likely to see the incumbent president re-elected for a fourth term, despite years of calls by the opposition for new leadership. President Faure Gnassingbe’s family has been in power for more than five decades, but months of anti-government protests in 2017, with about 20 people killed, were a sign of impatience with the family's hold on power.

Togo's government this week expelled a key US-based election observer group, weakening efforts to monitor for any irregularities.