France 24 announces the departure of its correspondent in Benin, Emmanuelle Sodji.

The dismissal of journalist Emmanuelle Sodji, correspondent for France 24 in Benin for eighteen years, was reportedly confirmed on September 11, according to information reported by French journalist Thomas Dietrich and several other sources from Benin Web TV.

The procedure initiated against the journalist follows the publication, on August 18, of a message on social media in which she confirmed the arrest of two French journalists detained in Togo. The National Union of Journalists CGT denounced this sanction in a statement published on August 29, reminding that the information relayed by Emmanuelle Sodji was already public, as the Togolese High Authority for the Regulation of Media had itself confirmed its circulation since August 18. The union then called for the immediate suspension of the dismissal decision and the retention of the journalist in her position in Benin.

Emmanuelle Sodji had already been removed from France 24’s correspondence for Togo a few months earlier. The two channels of the France Médias Monde group, RFI and France 24, have been suspended from broadcasting in this country since June 2025, with Togolese authorities accusing them of providing coverage deemed “inaccurate and biased” regarding the protest movements against the regime of Faure Gnassingbé.

A Togolese pressure on the choice of successor?

According to Thomas Dietrich, who was expelled from Togo in 2024 following an arrest similar to that of the two reporters mentioned above, Togolese authorities are seeking to secure the appointment of a less critical correspondent towards the current government in exchange for lifting the suspension of France 24 in the country. An internal union leaflet within the channel has also circulated to denounce interference by the Togolese government in the choice of Emmanuelle Sodji’s successor.

It should be noted that neither France 24 nor the Togolese authorities have yet publicly responded to this information.