Latest news with #FaureGnassingbe
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Togo suspends RFI, France 24 for three months: communications authority
Togo has suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, its communications authority said on Monday, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour. The suspension comes as tensions are rising between the West African country's leader Faure Gnassingbe and the opposition. Gnassingbe received in May the powerful new role of president of the council of ministers which has no fixed term limit. Two opposition parties — the Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change — called this move a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. RFI and France 24 have been covering opposition protests against the new constitution that created Gnassingbe's new role. "A number of recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, tendentious and even factually incorrect statements, damaging the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's communications authority said in a statement. In a joint statement, both outlets reaffirmed their commitment to journalistic principles and said that their management was willing to clear up any misunderstanding with the authority.
eNCA
5 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.
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
African country suspends two French news agencies
Togo has suspended French state-funded broadcasters France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) for three months, accusing them of repeatedly violating journalistic standards, including 'impartiality, rigor, and verification of facts.' The West African country's High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) announced the decision on Monday, stating that content aired by the two outlets had the potential to disrupt public order and threaten the stability of Togo's institutions. 'Several recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, biased, and even factually inconsistent statements, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image,' the HAAC said in a statement. The move comes amid tensions over recent constitutional changes passed in May that granted Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe the title of President of the Council of Ministers – an unelected position with no term limit. RFI and France 24 had been covering protests by opposition parties, which denounce the change as a 'constitutional coup' and accuse the government of seeking to extend Gnassingbe's rule indefinitely. Togo's media regulator said it had previously warned the French outlets during last year's constitutional reform debates over 'unfair treatment of information' and the 'dissemination of false news about the country.' 'Pluralism of opinions does not allow the dissemination of untruths or the partial presentation of current events,' HAAC stated. RFI and France 24 responded jointly, saying they were 'surprised' to learn of the suspension of their programming in Togo 'without notice.' 'RFI and France 24 reiterate their commitment to continuing to adhere to journalistic standards, and to supporting their staff, who deliver authentic, high-quality, impartial and accurate news every day, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed between HAAC and France Médias Monde,' they stated. The broadcasters said their management stands ready to engage in dialogue with the Togolese authorities to resolve any 'misunderstandings.' Similar restrictions on Western news agencies have been imposed in recent years across several West African countries. RFI and France 24 have been banned in Niger since August 2023, accused of spreading false information. In late 2023, the Sahel state temporarily suspended BBC programming for similar reasons. In neighboring Burkina Faso, the authorities temporarily banned radio broadcasts of BBC Africa and US-funded VOA in April 2024, citing 'biased' coverage of a Human Rights Watch report that accused the national army of mass executions. The websites of Le Monde, Ouest-France, The Guardian, and Deutsche Welle (DW) were also blocked 'until further notice.'
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Togo suspends RFI and France 24 for three months, communications authority says
Togo suspends RFI and France 24 for three months, communications authority says LOME - Togo has suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, its communications authority said on Monday, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour. The suspension comes as tensions are rising between the West African country's leader Faure Gnassingbe and the opposition. Gnassingbe received in May a powerful new role of President of the Council of Ministers which has no fixed term limit. Two opposition parties - the Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change - called this move a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. RFI and France 24 have been covering opposition protests against the new constitution that created Gnassingbe's new role. "A number of recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, tendentious and even factually incorrect statements, damaging the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's communications authority said in a statement. In a joint statement, both outlets reaffirmed their commitment to journalistic principles and said that their management was willing to clear up any misunderstanding with the authority. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Togo suspends RFI and France 24 for three months, communications authority says
LOME, June 16 (Reuters) - Togo has suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, its communications authority said on Monday, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour. The suspension comes as tensions are rising between the West African country's leader Faure Gnassingbe and the opposition. Gnassingbe received in May a powerful new role of President of the Council of Ministers which has no fixed term limit. Two opposition parties - the Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change - called this move a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. RFI and France 24 have been covering opposition protests against the new constitution that created Gnassingbe's new role. "A number of recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, tendentious and even factually incorrect statements, damaging the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's communications authority said in a statement. In a joint statement, both outlets reaffirmed their commitment to journalistic principles and said that their management was willing to clear up any misunderstanding with the authority.
