Togo’s media regulator has ordered a three-month suspension of broadcasts by France 24 and Radio France Internationale, accusing the two French state-funded outlets of repeatedly flouting standards of impartiality, rigor and fact-checking. In a statement on Monday, the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) said recent programs had “relayed inaccurate, biased and even factually inconsistent statements” that risked disrupting public order and undermining the credibility of Togo’s institutions.
The ban follows contentious constitutional reforms passed in May that created for President Faure Gnassingbé the unelected role of President of the Council of Ministers, effectively removing term limits. Opposition parties have denounced the amendments as a “constitutional coup” designed to perpetuate Gnassingbé’s grip on power, and anti-government demonstrations—already prohibited since 2022—have grown in size and intensity.
HAAC warned that while it supports a diversity of viewpoints, that pluralism does not extend to the “dissemination of untruths or partial presentations of current events.” The authority added that it had previously cautioned both broadcasters during last year’s debates over another set of constitutional changes, citing “unfair treatment of information” and “false news” about Togo.
France 24 and RFI issued a joint response expressing surprise at the suspension, which they said was imposed “without notice.” They affirmed their commitment to editorial independence, accuracy and the terms of their agreement with HAAC and France Médias Monde, and said they stood ready to engage in discussions with Togolese authorities to resolve any misunderstandings.
Similar restrictions on Western media have become increasingly common across Francophone West Africa. Since August 2023, Niger’s military government has barred both RFI and France 24, and in late 2023 it briefly blocked BBC services. Neighboring Burkina Faso also suspended BBC Africa and Voice of America radio broadcasts in April 2024 over coverage of alleged army human-rights abuses, and blocked the websites of Le Monde, Ouest-France, The Guardian and Deutsche Welle.
Press freedom advocates have urged the Togolese government and France Médias Monde to seek a mutually acceptable solution that preserves the right to accurate, independent reporting while maintaining public trust. As Togo enters this period of heightened political tension, the suspension of two major international news outlets is likely to fuel further debate about media freedom and governmental accountability.
