Togo on Monday suspended French broadcasters RFI and France 24 for three months, the media regulator said, accusing both of transmitting “inexact and tendentious” content.

“Several recent broadcasts relayed inaccurate, biased, and even factually incorrect statements, undermining the stability of republican institutions and the country’s image,” Togo’s High Authority of Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) said in a statement.

Togolese opposition parties and civil society groups on Thursday demanded Gnassingbe step down, urging a civil disobedience campaign following last week’s youth-led demonstrations.

He “must return power to the Togolese people to whom national sovereignty belongs”, the National Alliance for Change (ANC), Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR) and civil society groups said in a statement.

The groups urged citizens to launch acts of civil disobedience from June 23 to thwart the “illegitimate” regime.

Protests have been banned in Togo since 2022, following a deadly attack at Lome’s main market, though public meetings are still allowed.

Bloodbath in Benue: Amnesty International Calls on Nigerian Government to End Killings, Prosecute Perpetrators

The global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has issued a strong call to the Nigerian authorities to urgently halt the ongoing bloodshed in Benue State, following the recent massacre of over 100 people in Yelewata community.

According to Amnesty, the attack, which began late Friday, June 13, and continued into the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025, is yet another stark reminder that the Nigerian government’s security strategy in the state is failing.

“The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata… shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

Survivors of the attack recount a night of unimaginable horror. Many families, according to eyewitnesses, were locked inside their homes and set ablaze. Charred remains of victims, including children and elderly residents, littered the community by dawn. Dozens of others sustained life-threatening injuries, many of whom are yet to receive adequate medical attention. Scores are still missing, raising fears that the actual death toll may rise significantly in the coming days.

The attack on Yelewata is just the latest in a disturbing pattern of deadly violence sweeping across Benue State in recent years. Amnesty International said it has been documenting the increasing frequency and brutality of attacks carried out by gunmen, often referred to locally as bandits or unidentified armed herders.

“These killings have been carried out with utter impunity,” the organization said. “The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people their lives and livelihoods.”

The organization warned that if the federal government continues to treat these attacks with what it described as “institutional indifference,” the crisis could deepen further.

Amnesty expressed particular concern about the impact of the violence on the region’s already fragile food security. Most of the victims of the attacks are rural farmers, whose displacement is already disrupting agricultural activities across several local government areas in the state.

“Massive displacement caused by the attacks is threatening the livelihoods of thousands and may worsen the food crisis,” the organization warned.

In Yelewata, residents described how attackers stormed the village in large numbers, wielding firearms, machetes, and petrol bombs. Local sources said the assault was carried out with a level of coordination that suggests a premeditated plan and, possibly, external support or internal sabotage.

One eyewitness told reporters that the attackers moved from house to house, shooting indiscriminately and setting buildings on fire. “People were screaming, begging for their lives, but the gunmen didn’t care. They set homes ablaze with people inside,” the witness said.

Despite these repeated atrocities, Amnesty noted that little to no progress has been made in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Communities remain vulnerable, with little protection from law enforcement or the military.

“The Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue state and bring the actual perpetrators to justice,” Amnesty’s statement read.

The human rights body called for an independent investigation into the Yelewata massacre and previous attacks in the region. It emphasized the need for transparency, justice for victims, and accountability for those who fail in their duty to protect the citizens.

The Benue State Government has yet to provide a full casualty figure or comment on the latest killings at the time of this report. However, community leaders and civil society organizations have continued to raise the alarm, urging both state and federal governments to act swiftly.

Security experts and analysts have long warned that the Nigerian government’s reactive approach to violence in the Middle Belt region is unsustainable. Without a proactive, intelligence-led strategy that addresses both immediate security concerns and the underlying issues—such as land use conflicts, displacement, and ethnic tensions—the violence is likely to escalate further.

Meanwhile, families in Yelewata are left to mourn their dead, search for the missing, and piece together what remains of their shattered lives. For them, justice seems like a distant hope in a nation where impunity has often been the rule rather than the exception.

Amnesty International’s renewed appeal places the spotlight once more on President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its commitment to ending insecurity in the country. As communities continue to count their dead, all eyes will be on Abuja—waiting to see if action will follow this time.

Iran Condemns Israel for Airstrikes, Warns of Retaliation and Global Consequences

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong condemnation following a wave of airstrikes it claims were carried out by what it called the “occupying and rogue Zionist regime,” targeting Tehran and other cities across the Islamic Republic. The ministry described the attacks as a flagrant violation of international law and a direct affront to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a formal statement released in Tehran early Friday morning, the Foreign Ministry accused Israel of launching what it described as a “criminal and evil” assault that struck residential areas and resulted in the death of both civilians and military personnel. Among the casualties were “some of the noblest and most patriotic servants of the nation,” the statement noted, emphasizing the loss of individuals who had defended the country’s sovereignty and scientific achievements.

“This morning, the occupying and rogue Zionist regime violated the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of our dear Iran,” the statement read. “As a result, several defenders of Iran’s dignity, sovereignty, and scientific advancement – along with innocent civilians – were martyred.”

The Iranian government has expressed both condolences and pride in the fallen, declaring them “martyrs” who gave their lives for their homeland. The Foreign Ministry’s message was addressed to both Iran’s Supreme Leader and the general population, offering sympathy while calling for unity in the face of what it labeled as an “unforgivable crime.”

Iranian officials assert that the airstrikes constitute a breach of international peace and a violation of Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Invoking Article 51 of the Charter – which permits self-defense against armed attack – the statement declared that Iran reserves the right to respond.

“Iran reserves the legitimate and legal right to respond to this aggression,” the ministry said, adding that the Iranian Armed Forces would “not hesitate to defend Iran’s sovereignty with full strength and in the manner they deem appropriate.”

The statement further urged the United Nations Security Council to take swift action, calling on its President and members to immediately address what Tehran described as an act of aggression that threatens not only Iran, but international peace and stability.

“The Security Council must act without delay in the face of this violation of international peace and security,” the statement demanded. “We also remind the United Nations Secretary-General of his duties under the UN Charter and demand his immediate intervention in this matter.”

Iran also extended its call to the broader international community, urging Islamic nations, members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and governments that uphold the rule of law to denounce the strikes. It described the attacks as part of a wider campaign of militarism that now threatens to plunge the region—and the world—into deeper instability.

“The consequences of this aggression will rest squarely on the shoulders of the Zionist regime and its supporters,” the statement warned.

Notably, the Foreign Ministry directly implicated the United States in the attacks, suggesting that Washington’s backing of Israel made it equally accountable for the aftermath.

“These acts of aggression could not have been carried out without the coordination and approval of the United States,” the statement said. “As the primary patron of this regime, the US government will also bear responsibility for the dangerous repercussions.”

As tensions rise and the international community watches closely, Iran’s warning of “grave and far-reaching consequences” signals the potential for significant regional escalation. No independent verification of the alleged attacks or casualty figures was available at the time of filing, and Israeli or US officials had not issued immediate responses to the accusations.

With the situation still developing, the calls for global diplomatic engagement and de-escalation will likely intensify in the coming days, as fears grow over the prospect of direct confrontation between Iran and Israel—and the potential for wider conflict across the Middle East.