Refugees fleeing political unrest in Togo are pouring into Ghana as security crackdown on opposition protesters seeking an end to President Faure Gnassingbe’s rule steadily spread to northern part of the tiny West African nation.
Nearly 300 Togolese have entered Chereponi, a district capital in northern Ghana since a nationwide revolt against the Gnassingbe family dynasty escalated to the north last week.
One boy was killed after security forces used baton, teargas and live bullets against protesters in two northern cities only 26km from the border with Ghana.
Adom News’ Illiasu Abdul Raulf reports that refugees are continuing to cross the border after police clashed with opposition rioters at Mongo and Bafilo, two cities hundred kilometers north of the capital Lomé but just 16miles to Ghana.
As of Tuesday, 400 of the refugees arrived by road from Mongo into the district and double that figure reportedly entered neighboring district- Bunkprugu/Yunyoo.
Refugees were crossing over at official entry points and there were no reports of unofficial crossings.
The new arrivals told Adom News they were escaping another protest in the region that is set to resume on Thursday which they fear may spurn out of control after security refused to approve the gathering.
They said security forces raided their homes and brutalized them for participating in last week’s protest.
They also said armed military were stopping people from leaving their homes and added that dozens were planning to escape at night.
Togolese Journalist, Maxime Domegni tells Adom News, the opposition party is celebrating 25 years of the country’s constitution in addition to a sit down strike on Friday in protest of the continuous stay in office by President Faure Gnassingbe.
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