Law & Justice
French filmmaker held in Togo released to hospital
French filmmaker Sebastian Perez Pezzani, who was arrested in Togo while making a documentary, has been released under judicial supervision and is receiving hospital treatment, a source close to the case and his lawyer said.
Pezzani and fellow French filmmaker Gael Mocaer were arrested on July 27 while filming in northern Togo for the documentary series “Les routes de l'impossible”, or “The Most Dangerous Roads”, for French television. Their Togolese fixer, Fred Vedomey, was also detained.
The three were remanded in custody and charged with making false statements. Togo's government has said the judiciary has serious evidence against them and has accused them of using a drone, including in the north of the country, which faces recurring jihadist attacks.
Martial Akakpo, Pezzani's lawyer, confirmed that Pezzani had been released under judicial supervision and said his passport had been confiscated. Requests by Mocaer and Vedomey for provisional release were rejected, and they remain detained in Lome.
The production company working with the filmmakers says they complied with regulations. Akakpo has said the three deny the accusations.
Reporters Without Borders said last week that Pezzani had serious health problems requiring urgent treatment and called for the filmmakers' release.
Togo's authorities have also cited irregularities in the preparation and execution of the filmmakers' mission, while saying their detention conditions met international norms and standards.
Update
Sebastian Perez Pezzani was released under judicial supervision and is receiving hospital treatment.
Pezzani's passport was confiscated, according to his lawyer Martial Akakpo.
Requests by Gael Mocaer and Fred Vedomey for provisional release were rejected and they remain detained in Lome.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 16:58:39 UTC.
Update
Togo's government said it has "serious and corroborative evidence" against the two French filmmakers and their Togolese fixer.
Togo's justice and security ministries said the team used a drone in areas authorities regard as sensitive because of the threat of jihadist attacks.
The ministries said the filming authorisation was signed only by fixer Fred Vedomey and was limited to specific areas.
The ministries alleged several irregularities in the assignment without giving details.
The government said the three men appeared before prosecutors on August 17 with their lawyer.
Lawyer Martial Akakpo told AFP that his clients denied the charges.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 16:16:17 UTC.
Update
The detained French filmmakers are named as Gael Mocaer and Sebastian Perez Pezzani.
Reporters Without Borders said Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey was also detained.
RSF said the three men were remanded in custody and charged with making "false declarations" on August 17.
RSF said they were being held at a law-enforcement facility near Lome.
The filmmakers’ families voiced concern about their wellbeing, especially Pezzani’s health.
RSF called for their immediate release.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 19:37:09 UTC.
Update
Tony Comiti Productions said the detained men are French filmmakers who had complied with filming and customs rules.
The company's head said one of the men was seriously ill and at risk of septicaemia.
The company said the men were arrested near Kara while filming for a documentary series broadcast by France Televisions.
The company said their cameras, passports, footage and telephones were confiscated.
The company said an initial espionage accusation was dropped.
France's foreign ministry said the men had received three consular visits.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 13:35:16 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The specific basis for the false-statement charges is disputed.
The details of the alleged irregularities cited by Togolese authorities are not fully specified.
Source
AFP news report published on .