This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you consent to our use of cookies. Close

Africa Legal

Africa Legal

  • NEWS
  • JOBS
  • COURSES
  • CLIENTS
    • Sign in
    • Sign up
  • NEWS
  • COURSES
  • JOBS
    • Sign In
    • Sign Up
  • News
  • Courses
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Business A-Z
  • Post a job
  • Contact Us
  • Clients
CLIENT SIGN IN
Country
  • Uganda
  • South Africa
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Cameroon
  • United Kingdom
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Ghana
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia
  • Botswana
  • Morocco
  • Zimbabwe
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Sudan
  • Rwanda
  • Ethiopia
  • Angola
  • Egypt
  • Togo
  • Mali
  • South Sudan
  • Swaziland
  • Senegal
  • Malawi
  • France
  • Guinea
  • Middle East
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Gambia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Germany
Category
  • Profiles
  • Analysis & Opinion
  • Career advice
  • In-house
  • Latest news
  • Press releases
  • Africa Legal Blog
  • Women in Law
  • Innovation
  • Human Rights
Practice area
  • Agriculture
  • Arbitration
  • Aviation
  • Banking and Finance
  • Capital markets
  • Charties and pro bono
  • Company commercial
  • Competition and antitrust
  • Construction and engineering
  • Consumer products
  • Corporate finance and M&A
  • Criminal
  • Education
  • Employment and benefits
  • Energy and natural resources
  • Environmental
  • Financial services
  • Fraud & white collar crime
  • Funds
  • Governance | risk and compliance
  • Government and public sector
  • Health and safety
  • Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
  • Insurance/Reinsurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Litigation and dispute resolution
  • Logistics and transportation
  • Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Private client and family
  • Private equity
  • Projects and infrastructure
  • Real estate
  • Regulatory
  • Restructuring | insolvency and debt recovery
  • Shipping and maritime
  • Taxation
  • Technology media and telecoms
  • Travel and tourism
close

Registration

Registered Successfully!!!. We have sent you a confirmation email to your email address.
close


View My Saved News


close You must login to save your news
  • LOGIN
  • NEW USER

Login to your account

Forgotten your password?
or

Create an Account

close


View My Saved News


« Back

Cutting Internet a Violation

The decision of Togolese authorities to shut down the internet completely in September 2017 constituted a “very severe interference with the fundamental rights of the Togolese people”.

Jul 01, 2020
Carol Campbell
Share

President Faure Gnassingbé

This is the view of Professor Can Yeğinsu, a member of the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom and the lead barrister on the case representing Access Now, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and ARTICLE 19, and reported in the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute’s (IBAHRI) Freedom of Expression Bulletin this week.

Professor Yeğinsu was commenting on the landmark judgment last month where the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ruled that the internet shutdown was “unlawful, and contrary to international law”.

“The Internet is now one of the principal means by which individuals exercise their right to the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas: it is a key gateway to the public’s access to news,” the professor said.

The West African nation shut down access to the internet to hamper protests against President Faure Gnassingbé. In 2005 the president replaced his father, Gnassingbé Eyadema, who had been in power for 38 years. 

At the time demonstrators, who wanted an end to the “Gnassingbé dynasty”, reported access to the internet had slowed or been stopped.

Professor Yeğinsu said this was not an isolated case for Africa.

“Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Chad, Benin, and Zimbabwe have all seen the Internet shut down in recent years. As have other countries all over the world: these sorts of restrictions are now very much a global concern.”

He said that this was another “landmark judgment” from the ECOWAS Court in the area of freedom of expression. In another judgment in February 2018 it ordered the Gambia to repeal its criminal libel laws.

“The Togo judgment came, of course, only two days after the European Court of Human Rights held Russia’s law on website blocking to have an excessive and arbitrary impact on the right to freedom of expression. These are important and timely judgments from international courts: they give effect to an international minimum standard of protection for freedom of expression at a time when national authorities are moving to curb essential freedoms,” the professor added.



To join Africa Legal's mailing list please click here 

Copyright : Re-publication of this article is authorised only in the following circumstances; the writer and Africa Legal are both recognised as the author and the website address www.africa-legal.com and original article link are back linked. A bio for the writer can be provided on request.

RELATED CATEGORY NEWS

African Legal Awards 2023 | Nomination Read more
Controversy follows removal of Malawi’ Read more
Landmark ruling on matrimonial rights Read more

RELATED COUNTRY NEWS

Securitisation market gains ground in Read more
Expanding footprints in Africa Read more
Asafo & Co. Helps Google Cable Land in Read more
Africa Legal
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy and cookies policy
Members
  • Find a job
  • Take a course
  • Read news
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cancellations and refunds
Clients
  • Terms and conditions
  • Post a job
  • Host a course
  • Advertise
  • Share news
Connect with us
© Copyright 2023 | Africa Legal. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy