French Journalists Charged in Togo Despite Valid Documentation, Rights Group Reports

Two French journalists detained in Togo since last month have been charged with making “false declarations,” despite Reporters Without Borders (RSF) asserting that they possessed all necessary legal documentation to work in the country.

Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani were arrested on July 27 while filming a documentary for France Télévisions in Kara, northern Togo. According to the media rights organization, the pair held valid work visas and the required authorizations to film in the region.

While France’s foreign ministry has confirmed the detention of its two citizens, it has provided no further specifics, and Togolese authorities have remained silent on the matter.

Togo has faced increasing international scrutiny for restricting free expression and detaining foreign journalists in recent years. There are emerging concerns that Mocaër and Pezzani may be being held as political leverage for a prisoner exchange with France, a tactic previously attributed to other regimes.

The journalists are currently held in pre-trial detention at a law-enforcement facility near the capital, Lomé. RSF highlighted that Pezzani is suffering from serious health issues that require urgent medical intervention.

Tony Comiti Productions, the production company behind the project, maintained that the filmmakers were in full compliance with all administrative regulations in force within the West African nation. A third individual, the team’s Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey, has also been detained.

Thibaut Bruttin, Director General of RSF, expressed alarm that the situation has persisted for over 20 days, condemning the “unjustified and disproportionate” legal proceedings and calling for the immediate release of the media professionals.

In a joint statement shared by RSF, the families of the detained men described the “uncertainty and anguish” they face daily, pleading for a swift resolution and praising the filmmakers’ commitment to documenting human stories with integrity.

Tony Comiti Productions further emphasized that Mocaër and Pezzani are seasoned professionals whose work is focused on daily life rather than political agendas.

While official motives for the arrest remain unclear, local reports suggest a possible link to Ferdinand Ayité, a Togolese investigative journalist living in exile in France. Ayité fled the country after being arrested in 2021 following government complaints about his online commentary. Some speculate that President Faure Gnassingbé may be using the French nationals as leverage to secure Ayité’s return, though neither government has confirmed this theory.

This incident occurs amidst a broader crackdown on press freedom in Togo, which currently ranks 97th out of 180 countries on the RSF Press Freedom Index. In June 2025, France 24 and RFI were suspended for three months over allegations of “biased” reporting—charges the broadcasters denied. Previously, journalist Thomas Dietrich was arrested and expelled from the country while covering election campaigns.

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