Togo Suspends French Outlets, France 24, RFI Amid Anti-Government Protests
Togo’s media regulator on Monday suspended French broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months, accusing them of broadcasting “inaccurate and biased” content that allegedly threatens the country’s stability and institutions.
In a statement, the High Authority of Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) cited “inexact and tendentious” coverage, particularly in relation to the recent wave of anti-government protests in Lomé, the capital city.
“Several recent broadcasts relayed inaccurate, biased, and even factually incorrect statements, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country’s image,” HAAC declared.
The move comes just days after youth-led demonstrations erupted across Lomé between June 5 and 6, prompting a police crackdown that saw officers use tear gas to disperse crowds near the presidential palace and other parts of the city, according to Barron news.
Dozens were arrested, although the government claims more than 50 protesters have since been released.
However, reports suggest that several demonstrators remain in custody, intensifying public anger.
The protests were sparked by calls from popular rapper Aamron — real name Essowe Tchalla — who urged citizens to rally against the arrest of activists, soaring electricity prices, and controversial constitutional reforms by President Faure Gnassingbé’s government.
Tensions escalated after Aamron’s sudden reappearance in a video on June 5—10 days after being arrested from his home on May 26. In the footage, he issued an apology to President Gnassingbé and claimed to be receiving psychiatric treatment for “severe depression.”
The video has raised concerns of coercion and deepened opposition outrage.
The Togolese opposition, including the National Alliance for Change (ANC) and the Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR), along with several civil society groups, have demanded President Faure Gnassingbé’s resignation, accusing him of ruling through an “illegitimate regime.”
They have called for civil disobedience campaigns starting June 23, urging citizens to reclaim sovereignty.
“He must return power to the Togolese people to whom national sovereignty belongs,” the groups said in a joint statement.
Public protests have been officially banned in Togo since 2022, following a deadly bombing at Lomé’s central market, although public meetings are still permitted.
Gnassingbé has been in power since 2005, after succeeding his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled Togo for 38 years.
Critics argue the country has become an entrenched autocracy, despite claims of democratic reforms.
The suspension of RFI and France 24 — two of the most widely followed foreign broadcasters in Francophone Africa — has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates, who warn it signals increasing media censorship and shrinking civic space in the country.
