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eNCA
4 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Togo suspends French broadcasters for three months
LOME - Togo suspended French broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months, the country's media regulator said, accusing both of transmitting "inexact and tendentious" content. The temporary ban further reduces the two French public broadcasters' availability in West Africa after they were slapped with multi-year suspensions in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, a trio of Sahelian countries currently run by military juntas. "Several recent broadcasts relayed inaccurate, biased, and even factually incorrect statements, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's High Authority for Audiovisual and Communications (HAAC) said in a statement. In a joint statement, the two broadcasters declared they had "learned with surprise" of their ban which had been delivered "without warning" despite what they termed a "sustained and constructive dialogue" with the regulator. RFI and France 24 also reaffirmed their "indefatigable commitment to deontological journalistic principles, along with support for their teams who daily deliver rigorous, independent, verified, impartial and balanced news" broadcasts. In a statement which AFP has seen, HAAC cited three reports by the French broadcasters to justify its decision. The first was an interview on France 24 in which "inaccurate statements were made regarding the alleged conditions under which the artist Aamron was apprehended." The second featured "public statements by the regional correspondent of France 24 calling for mobilisation against republican institutions", while the third alluded to "biased" remarks in an RFI commentary. The suspension comes after anti-government protests shook the capital last week, Lome. Dozens of people were arrested after police dispersed protesters with tear gas on the night of June 5 to 6 in several districts, including near the presidential palace. Some journalists who covered the protests were also briefly detained and ordered by police to erase their footage. The government said it has since released more than 50 people but several remain in police custody. The protests, notably called for by popular rapper Aamron, were spurred by rising electricity prices and constitutional changes enacted by the government of President Faure Gnassingbe, who took power in 2005 upon the death of his father, who had ruled for nearly four decades. Those changes strengthened his grip over the country with the opposition saying they remove limits on his stay in office, extending his potential time as president until 2031 before likely being appointed to a new position of "president of the council of ministers" -- essentially prime minister. Gnassingbe says the reforms will strengthen national unity. Aamron -- real name Essowe Tchalla -- was arrested on May 26 but then appeared in a video 10 days later in which he apologised to the president and said he was in a psychiatric hospital suffering from "severe depression". Togolese opposition parties and civil society groups last Thursday demanded Gnassingbe step down. The National Alliance for Change (ANC), Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR) and civil society groups urged citizens to engage in civil disobedience from June 23 to thwart the "illegitimate" regime. Protests have been banned in Togo since 2022, though public meetings are still allowed. There have been fresh calls this week for further protests on June 26, 27 and 28.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Two French-linked media platforms, RFI and France 24, suspended in Togo amid protests
Two French-linked media platforms, RFI and France 24, have been suspended in Togo for three months over allegations of broadcasting " inaccurate and biased" content that threatens the country's stability. RFI and France 24 have been suspended for three months in Togo due to allegations of broadcasting biased content. Togo's media regulator cited concerns about the stability of national institutions and the country's image as reasons for the suspension. This move reflects growing tensions between African governments and French-linked media platforms. Togo's media regulator on Monday announced the suspension of two major French broadcasters, Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24 for a period of three months, accusing them of spreading ' inaccurate ' and ' tendentious' content that undermines national stability. According to a statement released by the nation's High Authority of Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC), the government cited ' several recent broadcasts ' by the two outlets that allegedly relayed biased and factually incorrect information. HAAC noted that the coverage in question threatened ' the stability of republican institutions and the country's image,' prompting authorities to take what they described as a protective measure in the interest of national cohesion. Though the HAAC did not single out specific programs or reports, the move follows growing tensions between the Togolese government and foreign media, particularly around sensitive issues such as constitutional reforms, political unrest, and alleged human rights abuses. Critics argue that the suspension is part of a broader clampdown on dissenting voices and press freedom in the country. The French media group France Médias Monde, which oversees both RFI and France 24, has not yet issued an official response. However, both outlets are widely followed across Francophone Africa and are often relied upon for independent coverage, particularly in countries where domestic press operates under tight restrictions. The suspension follows youth-led protests in Lomé on June 5 and 6, sparked by arrests of activists, rising electricity costs, and recent constitutional changes. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds near the presidential palace, with dozens arrested, though the government says over 50 have been released. The demonstrations, led by rapper Aamron, were aimed at President Faure Gnassingbé, who has been in power since 2005 Deepening rift between France and its former colonies This suspension places Togo among a growing list of African countries, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, that have distanced themselves from France. In recent years, this shift has been accompanied by bans or restrictions on French media outlets, often accused of pushing narratives seen as critical of ruling governments, whether military or civilian. The wave of suspensions reflects not just media concerns, but also a deepening diplomatic rift between former French colonies and Paris, as African governments increasingly assert control over their domestic information space.
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Togo suspends French broadcasters for three months
Togo on Monday, June 16, suspended French broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months, the media regulator said, accusing both of transmitting "inexact and tendentious" content. "Several recent broadcasts relayed inaccurate, biased, and even factually incorrect statements, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's High Authority of Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) said in a statement. It comes after anti-government protests last week that shook the capital, Lomé. Dozens of people were arrested after police dispersed protesters with tear gas on the night of June 5 in several districts, including near the presidential palace. The government swiftly said it had released more than 50 people, but several remain in police custody. The protesters gathered in response to a call by a popular rapper, Aamron, to denounce arrests of anti-government campaigners, rising electricity prices and constitutional changes enacted by the government of President Faure Gnassingbé, who took power in 2005 on the death of his father, who ruled for nearly four decades. Calls for protests intensified after Aamron, whose real name is Essowe Tchalla, reappeared in a video 10 days after he was arrested from his Lome home on May 26. Prior to his arrest, he had joined others in calling for the protests. But in the video, he apologized to the president and said he was in a psychiatric hospital for what he described as "severe depression." The state prosecutor slammed the demonstrations as "clearly part of a revolt against the institutions of the republic." Togolese opposition parties and civil society groups on Thursday demanded Gnassingbe step down, urging a civil disobedience campaign following last week's youth-led demonstrations. He "must return power to the Togolese people to whom national sovereignty belongs," the National Alliance for Change (ANC), Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR) and civil society groups said in a statement. The groups urged citizens to launch acts of civil disobedience from June 23 to thwart the "illegitimate" regime. Protests have been banned in Togo since 2022, following a deadly attack at Lome's main market, though public meetings are still allowed.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Togo releases dozens detained in anti-government protests
AI- Generated Image More than 50 people detained during anti-government protests in Togo last week have been released, while others remain in custody, the public prosecutor said. Dozens of protesters were dispersed with tear gas overnight from June 5 to 6 in several parts of the capital Lome, including near the presidential palace. They had gathered in response to a call by a popular rapper, Aamron, to denounce arrests of dissenting voices, rising electricity prices and constitutional changes by the government of President Faure Gnassingbe, in power since 2005. Protests have been banned in Togo since 2022, following a deadly attack at Lome's main market, though public meetings are still allowed. "A total of 56 people were released" by the government on "charges deemed light", public prosecutor Talaka Mawama said in a televised statement on Monday. However, "the custody period for some of those arrested has been extended to allow for certain necessary investigative steps", he added. "These people will also be presented to the prosecutor's office in the coming hours." The prosecutor said the demonstrations "are clearly part of a revolt against the institutions of the republic". The "Hands Off My Constitution" coalition of opposition parties and civic groups earlier told AFP it "strongly condemns the mass and arbitrary arrests" made on June 5 and 6. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News: You May Be Richer Than You Think Undo Calls for protests intensified after Aamron, whose real name is Essowe Tchalla, reappeared in a video 10 days after he was arrested from his home in the capital Lome on May 26. In the hours leading to his arrest, he had joined others in calling for the protests. But in the video, he apologised to the president and said he was in a psychiatric hospital for what he described as "severe depression". The rapper is still being held in the hospital, one of his lawyers, Celestin Agbogan, told reporters Monday, adding "there are no legal proceedings against Aamron".
