Legislative and regional elections kicked off in Togo. A total of 113 members of parliament and 179 regional councilors are to be elected at about 14,271 polling stations. Provisional results will be announced by the country's Independent National Electoral Commission within six days of voting.
The elections are being monitored by observers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and the International Organization of La Francophonie.
The legislative and regional election campaigns concluded on Sunday after two weeks. The vote is being contested by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, led by President Faure Gnassingbé, as well as the opposition. More than 2,300 candidates are vying for parliamentary seats.
Voters are casting their votes amid political tension following the implementation of an amended constitution in April. The constitutional changes, including alterations to the electoral system and government structure, have raised concerns, as the opposition claims the amendments were made to prolong the rule of the incumbent president.