Two French journalists and their Togolese fixer have been detained in Togo for nearly three weeks, prompting international press freedom advocates to demand their release.
Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, who work for the audiovisual production company Tony Comiti Productions, were arrested on July 27 alongside their local collaborator, Fred Venum. The team was filming for the France 5 documentary series “Les Routes de l’impossible” near Kara in northern Togo, approximately 20 kilometres from the Benin border.
According to reports, the three were initially placed under house arrest before being remanded in custody on August 17 on charges of “false statements.” They are currently held at the Agoè Logopé police camp near the capital, Lomé.
The French Foreign Ministry confirmed the detention on August 18, stating that the two French nationals are the subject of a judicial investigation. French authorities have conducted three consular visits since the arrest and are working to ensure their rights, Health, and detention conditions are respected.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called the detention “unjustified and disproportionate” and urged Togolese authorities to release the men immediately. RSF says the journalists entered Togo with work visas and filming authorization from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts. Tony Comiti Productions also maintains they secured a filming permit and declared their equipment to customs.
However, Togo’s High Authority for the Regulation of Written, Audiovisual and Digital Communication (HARC) disputes this account. HARC says it received no accreditation request from France Télévisions or the journalists and was not informed of their arrival or filming activities. The regulatory body insists the courts must determine the circumstances surrounding their presence and any alleged offences.
The families of the journalists have expressed deep concern, particularly regarding Perez Pezzani’s health. They say he suffers from serious health problems requiring immediate care. Both men are fathers; one has a 13-year-old child.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between press freedom and regulatory oversight in the region. As the judicial process unfolds, diplomatic and advocacy efforts continue to press for a resolution that respects both legal procedures and the journalists’ rights.