The Togolese government on Wednesday condemned street demonstrations against fuel price increase and the ensuing clash with police that resulted in one death.

One person was killed and one injured by firearm among demonstrators while several police officers were injured, during a demonstration on Tuesday.

The increase in the fuel prices at the filling stations, effective from Feb. 28, applies for a two-stroke mixture, super unleaded gasoline and kerosene.

It was a result of the “combined effects of the fluctuations in the global prices of energy commodities and the surge in the value of U.S. dollar”, the government said.

The government underscored that five decreases in fuel price had been carried out over the period from Dec. 25, 2015, to Jan. 26, 2017 and that it continued to subsidise fuel prices.

The government has thus regretted and condemned demonstrations and damages following price increase and urged the Togolese population for calm.

Meanwhile, Togo’s capital Lome returned to normal on Wednesday after violent demonstrations on Tuesday. Before day-break on Wednesday, security and military forces have been positioned in strategic points in Lome to avoid the resumption of demonstrations.

On Tuesday evening, in a broadcast, the government called for calm and regretted the death of a civilian during demonstrations.

“One person killed and one injured by firearm among demonstrators” while several police officers were injured, according to the government.

The increase in the fuel prices at the filling stations, effective from February 28, applies for a two-stroke mixture, super unleaded gasoline and kerosene.

It was a result of the “combined effects of the fluctuations in the global prices of energy commodities and the surge in the value of U.S. dollar”, the government said.

The government underscored that five decreases in fuel price had been carried out over the period from December 25, 2015, to January 26, 2017, and that it continued to subsidise fuel prices.

NAN