Lieutenant-Colonel Bitala Madjoulba, who commanded an elite battalion, was found dead from a bullet wound at a military base in May 2020, the day after Gnassingbe was sworn in for a fourth term.

Five soldiers, including General Abalo Kadangha, former head of Togo's army, were found guilty of charges including murder and complicity in murder at a military trial in 2023.

All appealed, but the tribunal confirmed the verdicts and increased Kadangha's jail term from 20 to 30 years, according to the lawyer for Madjoulba's family. Prosecutors had sought a 50-year-term against the general who led the army from 2013 to 2020.

The appeal tribunal also increased the original jail terms for the other accused and ruled that one suspect, who was acquitted at the first trial, was guilty and should serve three years in prison, the lawyer said.

Lawyers for the accused men had said there was a no proof to back the case.