With about 13 Togolese families in Ballarat, the protest has been organised in solidarity with the people of Togo against the controversial presidency of Faure Gnassingbe. Secretary of the Togolese Association Komi Dzagba, who’s lived in Australia for 10 years, said Togo is hungry for democracy and wants to be liberated from what they consider a dictatorship. 

“We now call for the return of the 1992 constitution. We want the president to step down or he must go now. It’s been 50 years of injustice,” he said.

Mr Dzagba said his brothers were beaten by police in Togo who came to their house and questioned why they were supporting the opposition leader. “The people do not have enough support to look after themselves,” he said. All wanting to protest can meet at the Ballarat Town Hall on September 23 from 11am until 5pm.