Togo lifts suspension for foreign journalists

Togolese authorities said they would lift the suspension of accreditation of foreign journalists imposed in April following a highly controversial constitutional reform.

The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication has suspended accreditations ahead of parliamentary elections in which President Faure Gnassingbé’s ruling party extended his family’s political dynasty.

HAAC justified the suspension with “serious failures” in the reporting of Togolese politics by the French media and with problems related to a French journalist who was expelled from Togo.

“The suspension of accreditation of foreign press organizations to cover news and demonstrations in Togo will be lifted with effect from Wednesday, June 26,” HAAC said in a statement late Friday.

Reporters Without Borders had denounced the suspension as a violation of freedom of information.

In the election in the small West African state, Gnassingbe’s Union for the Republic (UNIR) party won 108 of the 113 parliamentary seats.

Under the constitutional reform, the presidency becomes a largely ceremonial office elected by MPs. Power passes to a new President of the Council of Ministers, a position automatically held by the leader of the ruling party, in this case Gnassingbé as leader of UNIR.

This means that Gnassingbe can return to office every six years if his party retains a majority in parliament. Critics called the reform an “institutional coup” designed to allow Gnassingbe to circumvent term limits as president.

AFP

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