Togo has temporarily banned the broadcasts of two French state owned media outlets Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24 for three months, citing “repeated failings” in impartiality, fact checking, and editorial rigor. The High Authority for Audiovisual Communication accused the networks of spreading inaccurate and destabilizing content that undermined the country’s institutions.
The decision comes at a politically charged moment, as President Faure Gnassingbé faces mounting criticism over recent constitutional reforms that could extend his grip on power indefinitely moves opponents have labeled a “constitutional coup.”
While the Togolese Media Observatory expressed hope for restoring the broadcasters’ presence, tensions remain high in the lead up to scheduled protests, especially following a government crackdown on earlier demonstrations. Public protests have been largely banned in Togo since a deadly market attack in 2022, but civil unrest is growing amid fears of further democratic backsliding in the region.
