President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo withdrew five legal suits it filed against three privately-owned Lomé-based newspapers for allegedly defaming and insulting his personality including the two suits brought against L’Indépendant Express.
The managing editor, Carlos Kétohou, was informed by Robert Baoubadi Bakaï, the state prosecutor that the state was no longer interested in the case.
Early on September 24, the editors of the two newspapers La lantern and Liberté newspapers were also told by the state prosecutor that the case against them had been discontinued by President Gnassingbé.
The Togolese President separately brought the action on L’Indépendant Express, La lantern and Liberté in late August, following series of articles that the newspapers had published in their respective issues accusing him of mismanagement and corruption.
For instance in August 12, La lantern wrote that: “Faure Gnassingbé’s inability to govern (is being) confirmed day in, day out.”
MFWA was happy about this gesture and called on the media and journalists in Togo to repose this gesture by ensuring a high journalistic standard in the country.