French Journalist Expelled from Togo Amid Constitutional Tensions

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned the "brutal and arbitrary" expulsion of French journalist Thomas Dietrich from Togo. Dietrich, a correspondent for the online magazine Afrique XXI, was known for his critical stance towards the Togolese government.

Shortly after arriving in the capital Lomé, Dietrich published a video criticizing President Faure Gnassingbé's regime and the adoption of a new constitution that would shift Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system, a move opposed by the opposition. Dietrich was subsequently arrested by police, who allegedly "hit, stripped and insulted" him. He was sentenced to a 6-month suspended prison term, banned from Togo for 5 years, and fined before being deported to neighboring Benin. Authorities accused Dietrich of "deliberate maneuvers" to conceal his profession as a journalist, a claim RSF denies.

RSF also denounced the temporary suspension of all accreditations for foreign press announced by Togo's media regulatory body HAAC. The HAAC cited issues related to Dietrich's case and "serious shortcomings" in the coverage of Togo's political news by French media outlets RFI and France24 as reasons for the suspension.

Why this matters: The expulsion of a foreign journalist and restrictions on press accreditation amid constitutional changes in Togo raise concerns about press freedom and the ability to report on political developments in the country. The incident underscores the challenges and risks faced by journalists covering sensitive topics in nations with limited media freedoms.

RSF, an organization that defends press freedom and supports journalists in danger worldwide, emphasized the importance of freedom of the press and information. The group called for public support to enable it to continue monitoring and taking action to protect media freedom globally. RSF highlighted that a significant portion of the world's population still lacks access to freely reported news and information.

Key Takeaways

• RSF condemns "brutal and arbitrary" expulsion of French journalist Thomas Dietrich from Togo.
• Dietrich was arrested, sentenced, fined, and deported after criticizing Togo's government and constitutional changes.
• Togo's media regulator suspended accreditations for foreign press, citing Dietrich's case and "shortcomings" in coverage.
• Expulsion and press restrictions raise concerns about press freedom and reporting on political developments in Togo.
• RSF emphasizes importance of press freedom and calls for support to monitor and protect media globally.