Togo authorities have announced the end of a suspension on foreign journalists’ accreditations, which was put in place in April amidst intense debates over constitutional reform.
According to The AFP, the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication initially suspended the accreditations before legislative elections, which resulted in President Faure Gnassingbe’s ruling party solidifying his family’s long-standing political control.
The HAAC cited “serious failures” in the coverage of Togo’s politics by French media and noted issues with an expelled French journalist as reasons for the suspension.
“The suspension of the accreditation of foreign press organisations for the coverage of news and demonstrations in Togo is lifted as of Wednesday, June 26,” the HAAC declared in a statement released late Friday.
This suspension was condemned by Reporters Without Borders, who described it as a breach of freedom of information.
In the legislative elections, Gnassingbe’s Union for the Republic party secured 108 out of 113 seats in parliament. According to the new constitutional reform, the presidency will become a largely symbolic role elected by lawmakers, with real power transferring to a new president of the council of ministers.
This position, as per the reform, will automatically go to the head of the ruling party—in this case, Gnassingbe as the UNIR leader.
Critics have labeled the reform an “institutional coup,” arguing it is designed to allow Gnassingbe to circumvent presidential term limits and continue wielding significant power as long as his party holds a parliamentary majority.
