Gambiaj.com – (LOMÉ, Togo) – Togo’s media regulator has suspended broadcasts by Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24 for three months, accusing both outlets of airing “inaccurate and tendentious” content that allegedly undermines state institutions and misrepresents the country’s image.
The decision, announced Monday by the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC), comes just days after a wave of anti-government protests rocked the capital, Lomé. The regulator said the suspension was a response to “repeated shortcomings” in editorial standards, including breaches in impartiality, factual rigor, and verification.
“The pluralism of opinions does not authorize the dissemination of untruths or the partial presentation of the news,” the HAAC said in a statement, asserting that press freedom must not become “synonymous with disinformation or interference.”
The French state-funded broadcasters have not yet responded publicly to the suspension, which effectively removes two major international news voices from the Togolese media landscape for a quarter of the year.
Protest Crackdown and Media Suppression
The ban on RFI and France 24 follows mass protests organized in early June by youth activists and civil society actors. The demonstrators rallied against a range of grievances, including the rising cost of electricity, recent constitutional reforms, and what many perceive as the entrenchment of President Faure Gnassingbé’s power.
In power since 2005, President Gnassingbé has overseen constitutional amendments that allow him to remain in office until 2030, drawing criticism from opposition groups and international observers who warn of democratic backsliding.
During the protests, which were largely coordinated through social media, police forces responded with force, dispersing crowds and arresting around fifty participants. While most have since been released, some remain in custody. Journalists covering the events were briefly detained and compelled by security forces to delete footage, raising further concerns about press freedom in the country.
Press Freedom Under Pressure
Togo’s press freedom ranking has deteriorated sharply in recent years. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the country now ranks 121st out of 180 nations in its 2025 index — a fall of eight places compared to the previous year.
The suspension of the French broadcasters adds to growing fears among local and international press advocates about the shrinking space for independent journalism in Togo. Analysts suggest the move is part of a broader strategy by the Togolese authorities to control narratives amid mounting domestic and international scrutiny.
While Togo’s government justifies the suspension on the grounds of protecting national stability and ensuring responsible journalism, critics argue it reflects a pattern of authoritarian control and suppression of dissent.
As the suspension remains in force, audiences in Togo will have limited access to the French-language international reporting traditionally provided by RFI and France 24 — a blow to information diversity in a tense political climate.
