Togo charges two French journalists over incorrect documents, rights group says

Two French journalists, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, were arrested in Togo last month for detaining over false declarations, despite having all the correct documents required for their work, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The pair were filming a documentary in Kara, northern Togo, for France Télévisions.

The journalists had work visas and authorization to film in the region, but authorities detained them on July 27. France's foreign ministry confirmed their detention and stated that they had visited the pair three times. No comment has been made by Togolese authorities regarding the journalists' situation. Togo has been criticized for its suppression of free speech, with foreign journalists being detained in recent years.

There are speculations that Mocaër and Pezzani may be held as bargaining chips for an exchange with France, a practice that other countries have been accused of. The journalists are currently held in pre-trial detention at a facility near the capital, Lomé, and one of them, Pezzani, is suffering from serious health problems. The company producing the documentary, Tony Comiti Productions, stated that the journalists were experienced professionals who had worked worldwide to document people's daily lives without any political purpose.

RSF director general Thibaut Bruttin expressed alarm over the prolonged situation, calling for the immediate release of the French media professionals. The families of the journalists have expressed their hope for a swift resolution, stating that the uncertainty and anguish weigh daily on them. The case has raised concerns over press freedom and political dissent in Togo, which is ranked 97th out of 180 countries on RSF's press freedom index.