Authorities in Togo are cracking down on media and the opposition, report says ahead of election
LOME, Togo (AP) — Authorities in Togo have repressed the media and prevented civilians from gathering to protest peacefully, Amnesty International said in a report published Wednesday, ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled to take place at the end of this month.
Amnesty International said in its annual report on human rights around the world that two newspapers in Togo were forced to close for several months last year, while a number of journalists were arrested or hit with hefty fines after reporting on corruption.
Two journalists in Togo were sentenced to three years in prison after reporting about a minister’s involvement in corruption, but both fled the country to avoid detention. The human rights organization said it had recorded instances in which detainees in prison were tortured or mistreated.
The report comes at a time of heightened tension in Togo, a country of about 8 million people that has been ruled by the same family for almost 60 years. Parliamentary elections have been pushed back until April 29, and the government have arrested opposition figures and quashed efforts to organize protests ahead of the vote.
Related articles
REVEALED: Michelin Guide names its first
Michelin has named its first ever list of Key Hotels in the United States, recognizing the 'most out2024-05-07- Aerial photo taken on April 16, 2021 shows the deep-sea manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea2024-05-07
How China's breadbasket province ensures grain output through new technologies
* Heilongjiang, a region known as China's "grain barn," accounts for more than 40 percent of the cou2024-05-07China prepares to launch Shenzhou
The combination of the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket prepares to b2024-05-07The EU's executive decides to end legal standoff with Poland over democracy concerns
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive decided on Monday to end its 6-year dispute with memb2024-05-07Hainan eyes bigger role in nation's opening
Construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port is gathering momentum, said a top official of Hainan prov2024-05-07
atest comment