Togo
The Togolese Republic has been ranked 70 out of 180 countries according to the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) for 2023. Togo has made significant progress, climbing from its 100 place in 2022, positioning the nation in the upper tier for its level of media freedom this year.
WPFI is a ranking created by the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which annually assesses and compares the media environment and the freedom of journalists in 180 countries all over the world. RSF compiles the World Press Freedom Index by evaluating the countries’ violence against journalists, legal restrictions, and other factors affecting press freedom through various surveys and sources of data.
A lower ranking signifies a more favorable environment for journalism, whereas a higher ranking signifies increased limitations on media freedom.
According to the RSF website, Togo has a rich media landscape, with 234 newspapers and magazines, 94 radio stations, and a dozen television channels. The freedom of the press is recognized and guaranteed by the state.
Unfortunately, Togo is facing financial issues and has been ranked the 20th poorest country in the world for 2023 by Global Finance. This directly affects the press as Togo’s media outlets also encounter significant financial challenges, which not only foster corruption but also block their ability to function with independence and free expression.
RSF also confirms the limitations of Togo in terms of the degree of press freedom. According to them, the media freedom of the country depends on the political environment. The government and politicians exercise great influence over what information is reflected in the news and how. The party which rules can appoint and dismiss all directors of state-owned media.
According to Freedom House, although Togo has held multi-party elections since 1992, the country has been primarily governed by the late Gnassingbé Eyadéma and his son, current president Faure Gnassingbé, following a coup in 1963.
Although freedom of the press is guaranteed in Togo, journalists’ safety remains a concern, especially if they investigate topics such as corruption and the government. Since 2004, press law violations no longer lead to imprisonment. However, it is often bypassed when articles mention senior politicians. A 2020 law assures journalistic independence and information access, with an exception for “defense secrets.” Furthermore, access to information remains challenging, particularly for private media and critical content, especially when it involves the government.
There is no record of journalists being killed in Togo, however, two journalists, Ferdinand Ayité and Isidore Kouwonou, were detained in 2023. According to Media Foundation West Africa (MFWA), The High Court of Lomé issued a verdict on March 15, 2023, sentencing both the Director of Publication and the Editor-in-Chief of the biweekly publication, L’Alternative, to three years in prison each. Additionally, they were fined 3 million CFA Francs, equivalent to approximately $5000.
The YouTube debate which sparked the conflict was part of a program named “L’Autre Journal”. Although the two Togolese journalists did not mention any specific names, the Minister of Commerce, Kodzo Adedze, and Minister of Justice, Pius Agbetomey, accused Ayité and Kouwonou of defamation.
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Leda Markova is a student double-majoring in Journalism and Business Administration at the American University in Bulgaria. She loves to travel and explore new countries and their cultures, with the goal of telling their stories.
