On the eve of this month’s presidential elections, the Togolese government refused to grant accreditation to French media outlets. Reporters without Borders criticised President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe after correspondents from Radio France, RTL and La Croix were refused access to the country in the build up to the disputed 4 March vote. Diplomatic relations between the France and Togo have been tense, Togo gained its independence from the European country in 1960.