The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is deeply concerned by the suspension of broadcasts by French public media outlets RFI and France 24 in Togo. The decision, announced on June 16, 2025, by the country’s media regulator, represents a serious blow to press freedom and the public’s right to access diverse sources of information.
According to a statement from the Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC), the three-month suspension was due to what it described as “repeated failings in impartiality, rigour, and fact-checking” by the two outlets. The regulator accused the broadcasters of airing “inaccurate and biased content” that it claimed undermined the country’s republican institutions. No specific examples of the alleged breaches were cited.
The management of RFI and France 24 expressed surprise at the decision, noting that the suspension came without prior notice. In a joint statement, the broadcasters reaffirmed their commitment to journalistic ethics and independent reporting, and expressed full support for their teams.
This move comes amid mounting political tension in Togo. President Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005, was recently sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers, a powerful role without term limits under the country’s amended constitution. Critics have labelled the change a “constitutional coup,” and opposition groups have called for the president’s resignation. Protests erupted in Lomé earlier this month, with dozens arrested. More demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign are planned for later in June.
The MFWA condemns the suspension of RFI and France 24 as a form of censorship that deprives the Togolese public of access to independent, international reporting. We urge the Togolese authorities to lift the suspension and uphold their obligations under national and international frameworks protecting freedom of expression and media pluralism.
