Latest news with #Lome
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Togo soldiers break up protests against longtime leader
LOME (Reuters) -Soldiers in Togo used tear gas and batons on Thursday to disperse hundreds of protesters who blocked main roads in the capital to call for the resignation of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe, Reuters witnesses said. The gathering organised by bloggers and activists highlighted persisting political strife in Togo, where last month Gnassingbe was given the powerful new role of President of the Council of Ministers that has no fixed term limit. Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled the West African nation since 1967, had previously served for two decades as president, and opposition parties have described his new appointment as a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. Protest organisers called for three days of gatherings, although participants on Thursday were quickly scattered by soldiers, Reuters witnesses said. Many shops remained closed as clashes continued into the afternoon, they said. Hodabalo Awate, Togo's minister of territorial administration, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on security forces' response to the protests. In the suburbs of the capital Lome, some protesters burned wooden furniture and tyres used for makeshift barricades, sending black smoke billowing above the streets. "We're hungry. Nothing works for Togolese youth any more, that's why we're going out to protest this morning," said Kossi Albert, a 30-year-old unemployed man, adding that he was planning to turn out again on Friday. Togolese authorities arrested dozens of people on June 5-6 during protests against Gnassingbe's new role as well as what critics described as a crackdown on dissent and a cost-of-living crisis, according to Amnesty International. Many were quickly released, the rights group said. Last week, Togo suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Togo soldiers break up protests against longtime leader
LOME, June 26 (Reuters) - Soldiers in Togo used tear gas and batons on Thursday to disperse hundreds of protesters who blocked main roads in the capital to call for the resignation of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe, Reuters witnesses said. The gathering organised by bloggers and activists highlighted persisting political strife in Togo, where last month Gnassingbe was given the powerful new role of President of the Council of Ministers that has no fixed term limit. Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled the West African nation since 1967, had previously served for two decades as president, and opposition parties have described his new appointment as a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. Protest organisers called for three days of gatherings, although participants on Thursday were quickly scattered by soldiers, Reuters witnesses said. Many shops remained closed as clashes continued into the afternoon, they said. Hodabalo Awate, Togo's minister of territorial administration, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on security forces' response to the protests. In the suburbs of the capital Lome, some protesters burned wooden furniture and tyres used for makeshift barricades, sending black smoke billowing above the streets. "We're hungry. Nothing works for Togolese youth any more, that's why we're going out to protest this morning," said Kossi Albert, a 30-year-old unemployed man, adding that he was planning to turn out again on Friday. Togolese authorities arrested dozens of people on June 5-6 during protests against Gnassingbe's new role as well as what critics described as a crackdown on dissent and a cost-of-living crisis, according to Amnesty International. Many were quickly released, the rights group said. Last week, Togo suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour.
Reuters
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Togo suspends RFI and France 24 for three months, communications authority says
LOME, June 16 (Reuters) - Togo has suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, its communications authority said on Monday, accusing them of a lack of impartiality and rigour. The suspension comes as tensions are rising between the West African country's leader Faure Gnassingbe and the opposition. Gnassingbe received in May a powerful new role of President of the Council of Ministers which has no fixed term limit. Two opposition parties - the Democratic Forces for the Republic and the National Alliance for Change - called this move a "constitutional coup" that could extend his rule for life. RFI and France 24 have been covering opposition protests against the new constitution that created Gnassingbe's new role. "A number of recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, tendentious and even factually incorrect statements, damaging the stability of republican institutions and the country's image," Togo's communications authority said in a statement. In a joint statement, both outlets reaffirmed their commitment to journalistic principles and said that their management was willing to clear up any misunderstanding with the authority.
Washington Post
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Togo suspends French state-owned broadcasters RFI and France 24 for 3 months over reporting
LOME, Togo — Togo has suspended broadcasts by two French state-owned networks for three months for an alleged lack of impartiality in their reporting, according to a statement from the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication on Monday. The move to censor foreign media outlets comes as President Faure Gnassingbé faces increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. Critics have called the changes a constitutional coup. Radio France Internationale, or RFI, and France 24 are the networks being suspended. 'This measure follows repeated failings, already reported and formally recalled, in matters of impartiality, rigor, and fact-checking. Several recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, biased, and even contrary to established facts, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image,' read the statement. 'Freedom of the press cannot be synonymous with disinformation or interference,' it said. Protests are scheduled for next week following a crackdown on protests earlier this month. Demonstrations are rare in Togo as they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy .
Associated Press
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Togo suspends French state-owned broadcasters RFI and France 24 for 3 months over reporting
LOME, Togo (AP) — Togo has suspended broadcasts by two French state-owned networks for three months for an alleged lack of impartiality in their reporting, according to a statement from the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication on Monday. The move to censor foreign media outlets comes as President Faure Gnassingbé faces increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. Critics have called the changes a constitutional coup. Radio France Internationale, or RFI, and France 24 are the networks being suspended. 'This measure follows repeated failings, already reported and formally recalled, in matters of impartiality, rigor, and fact-checking. Several recent broadcasts have relayed inaccurate, biased, and even contrary to established facts, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country's image,' read the statement. 'Freedom of the press cannot be synonymous with disinformation or interference,' it said. Protests are scheduled for next week following a crackdown on protests earlier this month. Demonstrations are rare in Togo as they have been banned in the country since 2022 following a deadly attack at Lome's main market. But the latest change in government structure has been widely criticized in a region threatened by rampant coups and other threats to democracy.
