Togo Jails French Reporters Amid Accusation of Fake Documents

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:46:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Togo has arrested two French journalists for alleged false documents, raising alarm over press freedom and international diplomatic tensions.

In late July, France Télévisions’ film crew was detained in northern Togo for supposedly falsifying documents, despite possessing legitimate work visas. Reporters Without Borders slammed the proceedings as unfounded and called for their swift release, noting the case might serve as a bargaining tool for France. The Frenchmen and their Togolese fixer are held in pre‑trial detention near Lomé, while one suffers serious health issues. The incident reflects Togo’s fraught record on press freedom, with a history of detaining foreign media and stifling dissent.

Two French documentary filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Pérez Pezzani, were detained by Togolese authorities on 27 July after being taken into custody while shooting a film for France Télévisions in the city of Kara, in northern Togo.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has warned that they are being charged with “false declarations” even though they possessed the correct work visas and permissions to film in the country.

The French foreign ministry confirmed the two nationals were held but released no further details. Togolese officials remain silent on the matter.

Since 2021, Togo has been criticised for tightening its grip on free expression, detaining several foreign journalists in recent years. Some observers say the arrests may be used as leverage in a diplomatic exchange between France and Togo.

Both men are currently in pre‑trial detention at a “law‑enforcement facility” near Lomé. RSF reports one of them, Pezzani, is experiencing serious health problems that urgently require medical attention.

According to the production company, Tony Comiti Productions, the two had all required paperwork and were fully compliant with Togolese administrative rules before the arrest.

In addition, the journalists’ Togolese fixer, Fred Vedomey, has been detained as well.

RSF’s director‑general, Thibaut Bruttin, condemned the unjust proceedings and urged the immediate release, stressing the prolonged detention has weighed heavily on the families of the offenders.

“We are devastated by the deprivation of liberty endured in Togo by our partners,” the statement reads, calling for a swift resolution.

Mocaër and Pezzani are seasoned documentary filmmakers known for chronicling everyday life without political agenda, according to their employers.

The arrest may also be tied to the situation of a Togolese investigative journalist, Ferdinand Ayité, who was forced into exile in France in 2021 after government ministers allegedly complained about his online comments. Some local reports suggest the president’s administration desires Ayité’s return and could use the French reporters as bargaining chips, though no official sources confirm this speculation.

The case highlights broader concerns over press freedom in Togo, which ranks 97th out of 180 countries in RSF’s press freedom index.

In June 2025, French broadcasters France 24 and RFI were suspended for three months by Togolese authorities for allegedly spreading inaccurate or biased information during anti‑government protests – claims the broadcasters denied.

In 2024, French journalist Thomas Dietrich was arrested covering election campaigns in Togo and subsequently expelled from the country, as reported by the International Press Institute.

For more frequent updates on African press freedom and media rights, visit BBCAfrica.com or follow @BBCAfrica on Twitter, BBC Africa on Facebook, or bbcafrica on Instagram.