A coalition of human rights organizations in Togo is raising a unified voice to denounce the alarming deterioration of the situation of political prisoners in the country. At the center of this concern is Yaya Souleymani, a man whose delicate health has sparked serious worries.
Yaya Souleymani’s arrest dates back to the legislative elections at the end of 2018, in which the opposition chose not to participate. According to information reported by local media, he was apprehended along with other individuals on the day following the election. Since then, he has remained incarcerated without having been subjected to a trial.
The organizations that jointly signed this appeal lament the fate of Yaya Souleymani, whose health is said to have progressively worsened. His ongoing hospitalization highlights the lack of adequate medical care provided to him. The medical expenses, borne by his family, have reached a critical point, forcing them to sell their belongings to cope.
According to Monzolouwè Atcholi Kao, president of ASVITTO (Association of Victims of Torture in Togo) and spokesperson for the organizations, urgent intervention by government authorities is needed to prevent the worst for Yaya Souleymani. “Given the deterioration of his health, he submitted a request for provisional release, supported by medical analyses. However, he was notified last Friday that his request had been rejected. The wife of this prisoner is running out of means, and she has been forced to sell her belongings to cover these expenses, as in Togo, the state does not provide medical care for detainees. Fearing yet another death, we are using this statement to call on our government authorities to show humanity.”
This collective alert highlights a concerning reality within the Togolese prison system, raising questions about human dignity and access to healthcare for political prisoners.
