KIGALI, Rwanda 

Togolese are heading to the polls on Thursday to cast their ballots in local elections amid a tense political climate.

More than 4.5 million registered voters are expected to take part in the polls to elect 1,527 municipal councilors in the 117 municipalities of the West African country, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The electoral campaign ended on Monday across the country.

There are 19 political parties, nine party groupings and about 50 independent candidates in the race.

Polling stations opened from 7 am local time (0700GMT) and will close at 4 pm.

Voting is taking place at 12,541 polling stations across the country.

Col. Awate Hodabalo, the minister of territorial administration and decentralization, assured the public on the eve of the polls that all measures were taken to guarantee peaceful, transparent and credible elections.

Among the measures, authorities announced the country’s land borders will temporarily be closed during the polls to guarantee the smooth running of the election in a climate of peace and security.

A team of observers, including those from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, is expected to monitor the election, according to the electoral body.

These are the first municipal elections since the country adopted a new Constitution that switched the nation from a presidential to a parliamentary system in May.

The ruling party, Union for the Republic (UNIR), won the last municipal elections in 2019, with 60% of the vote.

The poll comes amid political tensions following weeks of regular demonstrations against the government.

Activists of the M66 Movement called for protests on Wednesday and Thursday.

The activists and bloggers demanding the resignation of President of the Council of Ministers Faure Gnassingbe, are against a government crackdown on dissent, the high cost of living and constitutional reform that strengthened the power of Gnassingbe, and could allow him to remain in power for life.

Last month, seven people were reported killed and several others injured during anti-government protests in the capital, according to human rights and civil society organizations in Togo.