HAAC Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

On April 16, A Togolese court sentenced Thomas Dietrich, a freelance reporter, to a six-month suspended prison sentence for illegal entry and banned him from Togolese territory. (Screenshot: Thomas Dietrich/X)

Togo expels French journalist Thomas Dietrich, suspends foreign accreditations

April 17, 2024 5:38 PM EDT

Dakar, April 17, 2024—Togolese authorities must identify and hold accountable the law enforcement agents responsible for arresting and assaulting French journalist Thomas Dietrich and ensure both foreign and local journalists are able to freely report on political news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, a court in Togo’s capital Lomé sentenced…

Togo shuts down private radio station permanently

October 2, 2013 10:52 AM EDT

Togolese authorities shut down the leading private Radio Légende FM on August 27, 2013, after suspending the station for one month in connection with its coverage of concluded parliamentary elections, according to news reports.

In Togo, court rejects repressive press law amendments

March 21, 2013 4:28 PM EDT

Lagos, Nigeria, March 21, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Wednesday’s ruling by Togo’s Constitutional Court to reject repressive amendments to a media law that granted the state-run media regulator sweeping powers of censorship.

A journalist shouts at police during a peaceful sit-in to protest recent repressive amendments to a media law. (AFP/Daniel Hayduk)

In Togo, police attack journalists protesting media law

March 18, 2013 3:35 PM EDT

Lagos, Nigeria, March 18, 2013–Togolese police on Thursday fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse journalists protesting new censorship authority granted to the government media regulator, according to news reports and local journalists.

Benin TV director pardoned for offending president

February 8, 2013 10:34 AM EST

Berthe Cakpossa, director of the private Canal 3 TV, was pardoned by President Boni Yayi on January 31, 2013, two weeks after a court sentenced her to jail and fined her for “offending the head of state,” according to news reports.

In Benin, newspapers sanctioned for coverage of officials

June 19, 2012 2:46 PM EDT

Throughout December 2011, HAAC, Benin’s state-run media regulatory agency, summoned more than a dozen newspapers to public hearings and handed them sanctions ranging from a public apology to indefinite suspension, according to news reports. HAAC’s president is appointed by Benin’s head of state, and two-thirds of the agency’s members are appointed by the government, CPJ…