Amongst the latter was the controversial gerrymandering of constituency borders in favour UNIR, led by President Faure Gnassingbé, and the 10-seat increase in the number of members of the National Assembly from 81 to 91.
Although the government banned street demonstrations in commercial areas, citing an inability to maintain security and public order, protest organizers from opposition and civil society groups pledged to carry out protests and denounced what they termed an attempt to stifle criticism.
On the first day, several thousand protesters commenced a march in Lomé's Bè neighbourhood and then headed to the commercial district of Deckon, where 100 police officers were deployed.
Trouble then arose amid a dispute as to whether the protest march would end in Deckon for a rally or proceed further.
Opposition deputies boycotted the vote as UNIR was unwilling to give them the posts of first and second vice-president in the Bureau of the National Assembly.