There are reports of a low turn-out for the controversial parliamentary elections taking place in Togo on Monday.

It comes after constitutional changes which critics said were aimed at helping President Faure GnassingbĂ© extend his family’s decades-long grip on power.

The reforms saw Togo’s presidential system replaced with a parliamentary one, which would allow Mr GnassingbĂ© to avoid presidential term limits and stay in office.

He has been in power for nearly 20 years and succeeded his father Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo for nearly four decades.