Rule of Terror. You may download and read it. You may not alter this information, repost or sell it without permission. If you use this document, you are encouraged to make a donation to Amnesty International to support future research. For years, a constant stream of information about human rights violations in Togo has been emerging.
Arbitrary arrests followed by torture and ill-treatment, sometimes result in deaths in detention.
These violations are largely attributable to the security forces who have acted for years without being accountable to the law. This was the case at the time of the peaceful demonstration in January 1993 and at the time of the presidential election in June 1998. The practice of arbitrary detention has always been a constant in Togo. Civilians and military personnel have been detained for months, even years, without charge or trial. Numerous individuals have been detained for short periods before being released without trial, others have been charged with breaches of common law offences to justify their arrest.