French nationals held in Togo after July arrests

Two French nationals have been held in Togo since being arrested on July 27, France's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said the pair are subject to a judicial investigation. Local media described them as journalist-directors working for a French production company.

Togo has been led since 2005 by Faure Gnassingbe, who succeeded his father, who ruled the West African state for 38 years.

The country's far north has faced incursions from jihadists based across the border in Burkina Faso since late 2021. The government declared a state of emergency in a northern region the following year and has extended it several times, most recently in February for one year.

Radio France Internationale and France 24 were taken off the air in June 2025 for three months after being accused of relaying “inaccurate and tendentious remarks” following demonstrations critical of the government that month.

Togo ranks 97th out of 180 countries in the annual press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.