LOME, Sept 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The popular Togolese rapper Aamron, known for criticising President Faure Gnassingbe, was re-arrested Friday, his lawyer said, two days after a former minister was also taken into custody.

Aamron's initial arrest in May sparked outrage in the west African country and contributed to a wave of demonstrations against Gnassingbe, resulting in a crackdown on public dissent.

Gnassingbe took office in 2005 after the death of his father, in power for 38 years, and has pushed through constitutional reforms that critics describe as a means to consolidate his rule.

"Aamron was arrested on Friday morning at his home and taken into custody (for) gross disturbance of public order, calling for a popular uprising and inciting the army to revolt," said his lawyer Celestin Agbogan.

The musician, whose real name is Narcisse Essowe Tchalla, had tried on August 30 to demonstrate in his neighbourhood of the capital, Lome, before being stopped by police.

He was first arrested in May and taken to a psychiatric hospital before being released in June after publicly apologising to Gnassingbe.

His detention was one of the triggers for June's protests against Togo's crackdown on critical voices, rising electricity prices and the president's constitutional reforms.

At least seven people died in the demonstrations, according to Togolese rights organisations. The government denies the deaths were linked to the unrest.

Aamron's latest arrest comes two days after that of a former defence minister who has become a vocal critic of the government.

Marguerite Gnakade, who was minister between 2020 and 2022 and is Gnassingbe's sister-in-law, was arrested Wednesday at her home in Lome, according to police.

She had published several opinion articles in recent months critical of the government and called for Gnassingbe's resignation in a video that was widely shared on social media.

She also demonstrated briefly in Lome on August 30 before being stopped by police.

At the end of August, a coalition of Togolese civil society organisations called Tournons la Page-Togo (Turn the Page-Togo) said two of its members had been arrested.