8 March 2010

Alert

French media denied accreditation to cover presidential election


Incident details

Travel restrictions

Radio France, Television station
RFI, Television station
RTL, Television station
La Croix, Newspaper

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(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned the Togolese authorities' refusal to grant accreditation to a number of French media outlets in the lead up to the country's 4 March 2010 presidential elections. The organisation voiced its support for reporters from Radio France, RFI, RTL and La Croix who were refused Togolese visas and issued the following statement on 2 March:

"Special correspondents from Radio France, Radio France International, RTL and La Croix were refused access to Togo to cover this Thursday's presidential elections. All of them had followed the appropriate procedures towards obtaining their press accreditation from the Communications Ministry several weeks ago. Despite repeated follow up with the ministry, the accreditation - a requirement for the issuing of the visa - was refused (. . .)"

RSF had already condemned last December the fact that several French journalists were having difficulties obtaining a visa in the lead up to the electoral campaign.

Source:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

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Updates to this story

French media outlets finally granted visas to cover presidential election 12 March 2010

Togo

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