Togo: a year on, the lingering questions surrounding the death of jacques koami koutoglo

Precisely one year ago, on June 26, 2025, Togo was profoundly marked by one of the most tragic incidents to occur during the waves of protests that swept across the nation. On that fateful day, Jacques Koami Koutoglo, a teenager merely 15 years old, lost his life under circumstances that continue to fuel public outrage and unanswered inquiries. Reports from his relatives and various civil society organizations indicate his body was discovered in the lagoon following the tumultuous events.

Beyond the immediate human sorrow, this particular case has evolved into a potent symbol of alleged violence perpetrated against civilians during widespread popular mobilizations. For numerous observers, the death of a minor amidst a demonstration serves as a stark and painful reminder of the human cost exacted by the persistent political tensions in Togo.

Yet, for Jacques’s family, the grief did not subside with his passing. Weeks after his death, on July 8, 2025, authorities reportedly denied permission for a commemorative mass intended to mark the 40th day. This decision deeply shocked his loved ones, who interpreted it as a direct affront to their inherent right to mourn with dignity.

In the eyes of many Togolese citizens, obstructing a family’s ability to honor their child amounts to prolonging their ordeal. Indeed, irrespective of political disagreements, the right to grieve a loved one and to pay tribute constitutes a fundamental human liberty and an essential aspect of human dignity.

A full year later, the name of Jacques Koami Koutoglo remains inextricably linked to urgent demands for truth, justice, and the eradication of impunity. His untimely demise continues to galvanize calls for thorough, independent investigations into the violence that characterized the June 2025 demonstrations, alongside the imperative to establish clear accountability.

Many assert that no genuine or lasting reconciliation can be envisioned until the families of victims receive definitive answers regarding the precise circumstances of these fatalities and until justice is unequivocally rendered. For when a child’s life is tragically cut short within a context of political contestation, it compels an entire nation to critically examine the safeguarding of fundamental rights and the responsibility of those who wield power.