The Togolese government has announced a tougher stance on social media use as it faces growing online mobilization from dissenting voices demanding better living conditions and the resignation of President Faure Gnassingbé.
The move comes amid increasing influence of the June 6 Movement (M66), an online citizens’ platform that has been rallying calls for anti-government demonstrations.
During a press briefing in Lomé, State Prosecutor Talaka Mawama reminded the public of the laws governing digital communication and warned that users who violate them will face strict legal action.
He listed offenses such as defamation, incitement to hatred, invasion of privacy, dissemination of false information, and threats to state security as punishable crimes.
Mawama stressed that the country’s penal code, along with laws on cybersecurity, cybercrime, and personal data protection, already provides a strong legal basis for enforcement.
He cautioned that the judiciary will no longer tolerate the misuse of social media, emphasizing that maintaining social and political order remains a top priority for the state.
