Togo's government asserted on 22–23 August 2026 that it held 'serious and consistent evidence' against two French documentary filmmakers and their Togolese fixer detained since July on charges of making false statements. The filmmakers, identified as Gaël Mocaër and others, remained in custody.
On August 20, 2026, Togo detained two French filmmakers and their Togolese fixer after more than three weeks in custody, according to media freedom group Reporters Without Borders. The detentions were attributed to alleged immigration violations.
French journalists Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani were placed in pre-trial detention in Togo on 2026-08-20, having been held since late July and charged with 'false statements' related to incorrect documents. Reporters Without Borders denounced their detention as 'unjustified and disproportionate'.