Togolese Journalists Seek Justice 2 Years After Assault; Denounce Judicial Silence

Six Togolese journalists, Yvette Sossou, Godfrey Akpa, Hyacinthe Gbloédzro, Yawo Klousse, Romuald Koffi Lansou, and Albert Agbeko, are publicly denouncing the lack of judicial progress two years after they were assaulted in Lomé, Togo, on September 29, 2024, while covering a citizen meeting at the headquarters of the Convention démocratique des peuples africains (CDPA). The journalists were present to report on a gathering attended by Senegalese ECOWAS MP Guy Marius Sagna and various Togolese political figures when the event rapidly escalated into violence. Individuals in the audience began throwing chairs and other objects, leading to a chaotic scene where Sagna and other political leaders were reportedly attacked, and the journalists themselves were caught in the melee. Their public statement, or 'tribune,' highlights their ongoing wait for justice, demanding that those responsible for the aggression be identified and that the victims receive updates on the legal proceedings, two years after the incident occurred.