Togolese journalist Apollinaire Mewenemesse is currently facing legal troubles in his home country, with authorities charging him with defamation, incitement, and anti-state offenses. The charges stem from a report published by his newspaper, La Dépêche, questioning the findings of a murder trial involving an army officer.

Mewenemesse was summoned and detained by the Research and Investigation Brigade in Lomé on March 26, following a judicial inquiry requested by the public prosecutor. The charges against him include defamation of the head of state, defamation of courts and tribunals, incitement against national defense, inciting inter-ethnic hatred, calling for an uprising against the state, and creating and spreading false news for seditious purposes.

The journalist’s lawyer, Darius Atsoo, has called for his immediate release and the dropping of all charges, stating that the accusations under the penal code do not align with the content of the report in question. Atsoo argues that the charges are baseless, as the report was published in print and did not contain any incitement of ethnic hatred or anti-state sentiments.

The situation highlights the challenges faced by journalists in Togo, where press offenses are handled under the press code but can also be prosecuted under the penal code under certain circumstances. The use of the penal code against Mewenemesse has raised concerns about press freedom in the country, with calls for legal reform to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests and prosecution.

As the case unfolds, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, with organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists urging Togolese authorities to uphold press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists like Mewenemesse. The outcome of this case will have implications not only for the journalist himself but also for the broader media landscape in Togo.