Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling for the release of two newspaper editors in Togo who have been jailed since 10 December for criticizing government ministers.
Following last July’s revelation that the Togolese authorities targeted several journalists for mobile phone surveillance, the arbitrary detention of these two journalists brings government media policy into further disrepute.
L’Alternativeeditor Ferdinand Ayité and Fraternitéeditor Joël Egah were jailed on charges of “defamation” and “insulting authority” after being questioned by the police Intelligence and Investigation Squad about their comments during a discussion on “L’Autre Journal,” a very popular current affairs programme broadcast onL’Alternative’s YouTube channel.
In the course of their discussion, the journalists suggested, without naming them, that two ministers were linked to cases of misuse of government funds.
The programme’s presenter, Isidore Kouwonou, was also questioned and was placed under judicial control.
