LOME, July 1, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Civil society groups and opposition parties in Togo on Monday called for an "international investigation" after seven people were killed during anti-government demonstrations in Lome.

Campaigners on Sunday claimed that seven bodies had been retrieved from waterways in the capital, denouncing "abuses committed by elements of the security forces and militia" during the protests.

The authorities have not commented on the number of bodies recovered but have criticised "unfortunate attempts at exploitation" and talked of deaths "by drowning".

The Don't Touch my Constitution grouping, which includes opposition parties and civil society organisations, called for "an international investigation into the crimes committed over three days of repression".

"Every time there is repression and there are deaths and severe injuries, the regime announces investigations," said Nathaniel Olympio, a spokesman for the grouping told a news conference.

"But we never get the results of these investigations. We never know who is responsible and we never know the circumstances of the deaths.

"The goal is to understand what happened, to identify those responsible so that acts of this nature do not occur again in our country."

A quarter of Togo's population is Catholic and the country's conference of bishops also condemned what it said were "unacceptable and unbearable acts of violence".

"Such a disproportionate use of force to suppress a demonstration, even if illegal, is simply unacceptable," they added.

Protests have been rare in Togo in recent years but the latest protests were the second call to take to the streets this month.

They were called against the arrest of government critics, electricity price hikes and constitutional reforms that have allowed Faure Gnassingbe to consolidate his power.

About 50 arrests were reported by the authorities on June 5 and 6.

Protesters who gathered from Thursday to Saturday in neighbourhoods across Lome were dispersed with tear gas.

Another call to demonstrate has been made for Tuesday.

Togo's minister of public service reform, labour and social dialogue, Gilbert Bawara, last week claimed there was a "manifest intention to sow disorder and chaos".

Gnassingbe has led Togo since 2005.

The Don't Touch My Constitution grouping has called for opposition political parties to boycott upcoming municipal elections on July 17, describing it as a "mock election".