Togo’s media regulator suspended French broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months, accusing them of airing “inexact and tendentious” content.
The move cuts access to these outlets in Togo and follows similar multi-year bans in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military juntas govern.
Togo’s High Authority for Audiovisual and Communications (HAAC) condemned the broadcasters for “inaccurate, biased, and factually incorrect” reports that threatened national stability.
HAAC cited three broadcasts: an interview with misinformation about artist Aamron’s arrest, a call to mobilise against institutions, and biased commentary on RFI.
RFI and France 24 expressed surprise at the ban, calling it “without warning” despite ongoing constructive dialogue with regulators.
They reaffirmed commitment to journalistic ethics, defending their teams’ work as independent, verified, impartial, and balanced.
The suspension comes amid unrest after anti-government protests rocked Lomé, triggered by rising electricity prices and constitutional changes strengthening President Faure Gnassingbe’s rule.
Protests, partly sparked by rapper Aamron’s arrest, led to dozens of arrests and police dispersals using tear gas near the presidential palace.
Aamron, who later appeared in a video apologising and claiming severe depression, remains a symbol of opposition grievances against extended presidential power.
Opposition parties and civil society called for Gnassingbe’s resignation and civil disobedience from June 23 to challenge what they term an illegitimate regime.
Protests remain banned since 2022, but public meetings are allowed; fresh demonstrations are planned for June 26 to 28.
Togo ranks 121st out of 180 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, slipping eight places in one year.
The ban on RFI and France 24 tightens the government’s grip on media amid escalating political tensions and public dissent.
