Two French journalists, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, were arrested in Togo on 27 July while filming a documentary for France Télévisions in the northern city of Kara. According to Reporters Without Borders, they have been charged with “false declarations” despite holding proper work visas and authorization to conduct their filming activities.
The journalists are being held in pre-trial detention at a facility near the capital, Lomé. A third individual, Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey, has also been detained in connection with the case. Reporters Without Borders stated that Pezzani is experiencing serious health issues requiring immediate medical attention. The production company Tony Comiti Productions confirmed that both men possessed all required documentation and were in full compliance with local administrative regulations.
France’s foreign ministry acknowledged the detentions and noted that French officials have visited the pair on three occasions. The ministry indicated ongoing monitoring of their treatment, legal representation access, and regular contact with their lawyer, employer, and families. Togolese authorities have not publicly commented on the case.
Some reports suggest the detention may be connected to Ferdinand Ayité, a Togolese investigative journalist currently in exile in France who was arrested in Togo in 2021. Speculation exists that the French nationals could potentially serve as leverage in negotiations, though neither French nor Togolese authorities have confirmed this. The detention occurs amid a broader pattern of press restrictions in Togo, which ranks 97th on Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index. In June 2025, French broadcasters France 24 and RFI were suspended for three months for allegedly disseminating inaccurate information.
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