Criminal
Code pénal 2015 with the death penalty abolished in 2009
Loi n° 2015-010 recodified criminal law. Togo abolished the death penalty in 2009. A 2018 cybersecurity law and a 2019 law on the press and communication have been criticised for restricting expression.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Tribunal de première instance and Cour d'assises; the Cour suprême hears criminal appeals.
- Deadline — Garde à vue: 48 hours, extendable once
- Deadline — Prescription: 10 years for crimes, 3 years for délits
Governing law
- Loi n° 2015-010 du 24 novembre 2015 portant nouveau Code pénal
- Loi n° 2009-011 portant abolition de la peine de mort
- Loi n° 2018-026 sur la cybersécurité et la lutte contre la cybercriminalité
In practice
Togo abolished capital punishment in 2009 by a dedicated statute rather than as part of recodification. The contested area since has been speech: the 2018 cybersecurity law criminalises the publication of false information online, and journalists and activists have been prosecuted under it, drawing criticism from ECOWAS bodies and press freedom organisations.