Togo

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed reforms passed by the Togolese National Assembly amending the press and communications law so that press offences are no longer punishable by prison terms. In a 24 August 2004 extraordinary session, Parliament unanimously adopted the draft law. The new text replaces the 25 September 2002 law, previously considered one of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert: On 30 April 2004, journalists Yves Kpéto, of Nana FM radio station, and K. Amouzouvi, of the weekly newspaper “Le Combat du Peuple”, were physically assaulted by state security forces at the Université de Lomé campus. The two journalists were covering a demonstration by university students […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has urged the authorities to do everything possible to protect Guy Mario Abalo, Radio France Internationale’s (RFI) correspondent in Togo, after he received death threats following the broadcast of a report about a corruption and fraud case implicating two former government ministers. The report aired on 25 March 2004. “The messages left […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: London/ Johannesburg 6th August 2003 ARTICLE 19 criticises state of media freedom in Togo Today, ARTICLE 19 released a memorandum criticising the legal regime affecting freedom of expression in Togo. Since the beginning of this year, legislation introduced in 2002 on press cards and […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert: Three media workers who were held at the Lome prison for nearly five weeks have been released. Philipe Evegnon, managing director of “L’Evenement” newspaper, and Jean de Dieu Kpakpala, a reporter with the “Nouvel Echo” weekly, were released on 23 July 2003 following an order by […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 July 2003 CPJ press release: Togo: Imprisoned journalist released New York, July 24, 2003-Dimas Dzikodo, editor-in-chief of the independent weekly L’Evenement, was released from prison this morning after his lawyers paid his 500,000 CFA franc (US$864) fine for “attempting to publish false information,” sources in the capital, Lomé, […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Togo: Two journalists released from prison Another journalist remains jailed New York, July 23, 2003-Two of three journalists who have been imprisoned in Togo for more than a month were released early this morning from custody. Philip Evégnon, publication director of the private weekly L’Evenement, and […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 15 July 2003 CPJ press release: TOGO: Imprisoned journalists on hunger strike New York, July 15, 2003-Three imprisoned Togolese journalists announced yesterday morning that they would begin a 48-hour hunger strike to protest their continued detention on charges of “publishing false information and disturbing public order.” Dimas Dzikodo and […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: TOGO: Three journalists imprisoned for more than a week New York, June 25, 2003-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the continued imprisonment of three Togolese journalists on charges of “publishing false information and disturbing public order.” Dimas Dzikodo and Philip Evégnon, editor-in-chief […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Dimas Dzikodo and Philip Evégnon, editor-in-chief and editor, respectively, of the private weekly “L’Evénement”, as well as Colombo Kpakpabia, a journalist with the private weekly “Nouvel Echo”, were arrested by police officers on 14 and 15 June 2003. They have since been detained and questioned at national police headquarters in the capital, Lome. […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué, managing editor of the weekly “Le Courrier du citoyen”, was released on 7 May 2003. He was detained without trial for four months at Lomé Civil Prison. No official information was given concerning the decision to release the journalist. Following his release, Nicoué went to Atakpamé (160 kilometres from Lomé), […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continuing detention without trial of Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper “Le Courrier du citoyen”. According to information received by PEN, Nicoué has been held at Lomé Civil Prison since 26 December 2002, when he was arrested by Criminal […]

(RSF/IFEX) – According to information collected by RSF, on 26 March 2003, the Communications Ministry’s press attaché informed all foreign correspondents, including those with Radio France Internationale, Agence France-Presse, Reuters and the BBC, that the minister was barring them from practicing their jobs “until further notice.” With the exception of the correspondent for Africa No. […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 10 March 2003 letter to President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, CPJ expressed its deep concern about increased restrictions on press freedom in Togo ahead of presidential elections, which are scheduled for June. The organization is particularly alarmed by last week’s closure of private radio station Tropik FM, based in the capital, Lomé. On […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 28 February 2003, the Audiovisual and Communications High Authority (Haute Autorité de l’audiovisuel et de la communication, HAAC) announced the closure of the private radio station Tropik FM “until further notice.” RSF condemns this unacceptable move and urges the authorities to do everything within their power to ensure that the station is […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 26 December 2002, Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué, director of publication for the weekly “Courrier du citoyen”, was arrested and remanded into custody for “inciting citizens to take up arms against the authority of the state.” Without disputing the inflammatory nature of the incriminating article, RSF calls on the Togolese authorities to free the […]