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 Gnassingbé 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 Gnassingbé 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.