In Togo, two private media channels were taken off air after the country’s regulator said they were breaching licensing rules, AFP reports.
The move has been criticized by rights groups with Amnesty International terming it in a statement as disproportionate and “an attack against freedom of speech”. Media unions also condemned the decision.
Television station La Chaine du Futur and City FM radio were ordered to stop broadcasting as they had not fulfilled “the prerequisite permission formalities”.
Mathias Ayena, from the official regulator, told AFP that neither channel obtained the proper authorisation before they started broadcasting in 2007.
“We’re simply asking those in charge of these media to make the necessary request and we will study it,” he added.
There was speculation however that the shut-down was because of the reported links between the channels’ parent company Sud Media to a former minister in President Faure Gnassingbe’s government.
Mr Pascal Bodjona was previously implicated in an international corruption scandal.
There was no immediate confirmation from Sud Media but its director-general, Mr Luc Abaki, called the regulator’s response “unlawful” and maintained they had followed procedures.
“We’re not going to defy the authority of the regulator, which is why we have decided to suspend our programmes to give us time to make the necessary representations,” he added.
In 2013, the regulator closed Legende FM radio for “multiple misdemeanours” after it was deemed to have broadcast false information during parliamentary elections.
