Togo: OMCT deeply concerned about the deterioration of Mr. Abdoul Aziz Goma’s health during his hunger strike

The OMCT is concerned about the situation of Abdoul Aziz Goma, a human rights defender who has begun a hunger strike to denounce his detention conditions and demand justice. After one week of this protest action, this Togolese human rights defender was admitted to the emergency ward following a rapid deterioration of his health. He has been arbitrarily detained for seven years, subjected to torture, and yet justice has never been served.

"I saw his suffering with my own eyes"
"I visited Aziz several times at Lomé civil prison. His body bears the scars of torture and his mind the weight of injustice," said Isidore Ngueuleu, Head of OMCT's Africa Office. "He has survived unspeakable abuse, yet his calls for justice remain unanswered. The authorities must understand that Aziz's hunger strike is not an act of defiance, but a desperate cry for dignity."

Arrested for defending human rights
Aziz was arrested in 2018 simply for supporting young peaceful demonstrators calling for democratic reforms in Togo. At the request of a friend, he had temporarily hosted protestors from rural areas in Lomé. For this act of solidarity, he was accused of crimes against state security and imprisoned.

"Defending human rights can never be equated with insurrection," Ngueuleu stressed. "Aziz's detention sends a chilling message to all those who dare to stand by citizens peacefully demanding change."

Inhumane prison conditions
Lomé civil prison operates at more than four times its official capacity. Built to hold around 666 detainees, it housed 2,699 as of 25 August 2025, with an occupancy rate of 405.25%. In 2019, the UN Committee against Torture had already recommended that the Togolese authorities immediately close this prison, considering that its detention conditions clearly amount to torture.

In Lomé, overcrowding forces detainees to sleep sitting up, crammed tightly together. Access to medical care is nearly non-existent, leading to preventable deaths. Food is insufficient and often unfit for consumption.

"These conditions are not only cruel, they are a direct assault on human dignity and life itself, as shown by the many deaths in detention," Ngueuleu added.

An alarming health condition
Even before beginning his hunger strike, Aziz's health was already extremely concerning. His doctor repeatedly warned that he could not remain in detention, stressing that prison authorities are incapable of providing him with proper treatment. According to the doctor: "It is urgently necessary to obtain a judicial solution so that he may receive appropriate care, given the local limitations in terms of diagnosis."

"We are extremely worried that this hunger strike may cause him irreversible harm in the absence of immediate action," Ngueuleu continued.

The authorities hold the key
In July 2025, an OMCT delegation met with Togolese authorities in Lomé. Discussions were held in a spirit of openness and empathy, and officials acknowledged the urgency of reforming the prison system and addressing the situation of detainees like Aziz. We even submitted a request for presidential pardon to His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBÉ, President of the Republic, to which no response has yet been given.

In addition, a lawyer from the Judicial Intervention Group (GIJ), working with members of the SOS Torture Network, filed a petition for Aziz's release, for which he is eligible not only under the law but also in light of the urgent health concerns raised. At the time of writing, Abdoul Aziz GOMA has been admitted to the Biasa Clinic after six days on hunger strike, where he underwent medical tests due to the deterioration of his condition.

Today, the OMCT reminds the authorities that the solution lies in their hands. By releasing Abdoul Aziz Goma and others detained in connection with the socio-political situation, the authorities would take a decisive step toward justice, reconciliation, and respect for human rights in Togo.

A moment of truth
"During our last visit, Aziz spoke to me about the pain of being separated from his children. As a father myself, I was deeply moved. No one should be deprived of their family, dignity, and freedom for an act of solidarity," Ngueuleu concluded.

The OMCT expresses its solidarity with Aziz and all detainees linked to the socio-political situation in Togo. His hunger strike is a call to action.