In brief
Togo authorities have charged French documentary filmmakers Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani with false declarations, despite their possession of valid work visas and authorisation to film in Kara. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the detention as unwarranted and highlights the risk of using journalists as bargaining chips in diplomatic disputes. The pair remain in pre‑trial detention near Lomé, while their health and the political context raise concerns about press freedom in Togo. RSF and the journalists’ families call for immediate release and stress the tools’ professional dedication and commitment to documenting life in the region.
Togo detains two French journalists over alleged false declarations.
On 27 July, French nationals Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani were apprehended in Kara, northern Togo, while filming a documentary for France Télévisions. The local authorities cited "false declarations" as the reason for the arrest, yet RSF reports that the men were in possession of all requisite work visas and had obtained official authorisation to film in the country.
France’s foreign ministry confirmed the detention but withheld details, and Togolese officials have yet to comment. Meanwhile, RSF points out Togo’s reputation for tightening restrictions on free expression, noting that several foreign journalists have faced similar treatment in recent years.
The French nationals are held in a pre‑trial detention facility close to Lomé, and RSF has raised concerns about the serious health problems of one of the detained journalists, who urgently needs medical care. RSF Director‑General Thibaut Bruttin called the proceedings “unjustified and disproportionate.”
The arrest is believed by some observers to be part of a broader diplomatic manoeuvre, possibly to use the journalists as leverage in negotiations with the French government over a Togolese investigative journalist currently in exile. Although neither Togolese nor French officials have acknowledged guilt, the incident underscores ongoing tensions over press freedom in Togo, which is ranked 97th out of 180 countries on RSF’s press‑freedom index.
Earlier this year, France 24 and RFI faced a three‑month suspension in Togo for allegedly spreading “inaccurate and biased” reporting about anti‑government protests. The authorities rejected the allegations. In 2024, French reporter Thomas Dietrich was also expelled from Togo after documenting election campaigning.
RSF urges the immediate release of the detained journalists and stresses that the men have no political agenda beyond documenting local life. Their families have expressed devastation and hope for a swift resolution, noting the daily uncertainty and anguish their loved ones endure.
