Like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Togo Suspends RFI and France 24 Broadcasts Over “Biased Coverage”

Togo has announced a three-month suspension of broadcasts by French media outlets Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24. The decision, confirmed in a statement released by the country’s Higher Audiovisual and Communication Authority (HAAC), cites what officials describe as “distorted and biased coverage” of recent anti-government protests.

The HAAC accused the French state-owned broadcasters of airing “inaccurate and biased statements that harm the stability of republican institutions and the country’s image.” It further emphasised that freedom of the press must not be equated with the spread of misinformation.

The suspension comes amid rising political tensions in Togo, where opposition groups have staged protests against President Faure Gnassingbé’s continued rule. Gnassingbé has been in power since 2005, succeeding his father in what critics describe as a dynastic grip on power.

This move by Togo to suspend the media outlets follows Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s move to cut ties with French media outlets in recent years, citing similar concerns over editorial bias and interference.

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