Media regulator in the West African country of Togo has sent a strong warning to Radio France Internationale that it would face suspension if it continued with “unbalanced” reporting and spreading “fake news”.
The warning came as media watchdogs accuse the government of a press crackdown since lawmakers passed a highly contested constitutional reform that opposition parties say allows President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his rule.
It would be recalled that Togo’s High Authority for Audiovisual and Communications or HAAC last month suspended authorisations for foreign journalists to travel to cover the April 29 legislative elections.
In its warning letter, HAAC accused RFI of ignoring repeated appeals for neutrality in coverage of Togo’s situation and the elections.
“These repeated errors in your reporting are not only damaging to the image of Togo but also violate the fundamental principles of journalism,” it said.
According to HAAC, it would “take appropriate measures, including the suspension of your right to broadcast in the national territory until further notice.”
RFI did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the HAAC statement.
French journalist Thomas Dietrich, a critic of the authorities, was also expelled shortly after entering Togo before the ballot.
Political tensions have been on the rise in Togo since the parliament approved the new constitution in April, switching the West African country from a presidential to a parliamentary system.