Marguerite Gnakadé, a former defense minister and prominent critic of Togo’s government, has been arrested, according to security sources. Gnakadé, the sister-in-law of long-serving leader Faure Gnassingbé, recently called for his resignation and urged the military to support the people in ending decades of dynastic rule. A police source told AFP that she was arrested for serious acts, including inciting the military to rebellion. Local media reported that she was taken into custody by security forces at her home in the capital, Lomé, on Wednesday. Togo has been experiencing deadly protests demanding Gnassingbé’s resignation and the release of political prisoners. These protests reflect widespread anger and fatigue with a family-run regime that has been in power for six decades. Gnassingbé, who has led the country since 2005, succeeded his father, Gnassingbé Éyadéma, who ruled for 38 years from 1967. A new constitutional structure that allows Gnassingbé to prolong his hold on power while shifting to a new role as President of the Council of Ministers has further fueled the protests. In May, Gnassingbé was sworn into this new position, which has no official term limits. Gnakadé, who served as defense minister from 2020 to 2022, has been a vocal critic of Gnassingbé, writing articles calling for his resignation and supporting protests against his leadership. Her arrest has sparked outrage on social media, and she is currently being questioned by authorities. Some reports suggest the charges against her are related to alleged connections with exiled opposition figures and attempts to incite disobedience within the armed forces. If proven, these allegations could result in a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years. Opposition parties and civil society groups have condemned her arrest, calling it an abuse of power aimed at silencing dissent. A youth-led movement, M66, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding her release, threatening nationwide demonstrations if their demand is not met. The situation remains tense as more details about her arrest are expected to emerge in the coming days.