French filmmakers face detention as Lomé tightens media grip
Two French filmmakers were formally arrested and jailed in Togo this month, marking a sharp escalation in the West African nation’s tightening grip on media freedoms. Sébastien Perez Pezzani and Gaël Mocaër, detained in the country’s northern region while documenting a film project, were charged and placed under pretrial detention—an action that underscores deeper political tensions.
Administrative pretexts mask political repression
Togo’s government has framed the detention under administrative violations, citing unmet accreditation requirements and visa irregularities. Yet the move reveals a broader pattern of media control:
- Restricted zones: The north, bordering volatile Sahel regions, remains under emergency security measures. Authorities enforce strict oversight of all journalistic activity, banning unsupervised reporting.
- History of suppression: The case echoes the 2024 expulsion of journalist Thomas Dietrich, a move that highlighted Lomé’s deep-seated suspicion of foreign media, often viewed as threats to stability.
Diplomatic leverage behind the detention
Observers suggest the arrest may serve as leverage in Togo’s tense relationship with France. The regime of Faure Gnassingbé appears to be using the two filmmakers as bargaining chips in negotiations concerning Ferdinand Ayité, an exiled Togolese investigative journalist living in France who has long been a target of Lomé’s authorities.
Media freedom under siege in Togo
By targeting international journalists after years of suppressing local independent media, Togo’s government is tightening its control over national narratives. As diplomatic efforts intensify behind the scenes to secure the filmmakers’ release, the case highlights a regime willing to weaponize detention for political ends.
