RSF - Reporters sans frontières
RSF - Reporters sans frontières
08/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/20/2026 06:33
Togo: RSF calls for the immediate release of French filmmakers Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani and their Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey, who are in pre-trial detention
Gaël Mocaër, Sebastian Perez Pezzani and Fred Vedomey were placed in pre-trial detention in Lomé, the capital of Togo, on August 17. Deprived of their liberty since July 27, the two media professionals were filming an episode of Les Routes de l'impossible, a documentary series broadcast by France Télévisions, in the north of the country with their fixer. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the unjustified and disproportionate proceedings and calls for the media professionals' immediate release.
Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani were filming an episode of Les Routes de l'impossible, a programme broadcast on the French public-service channel France 5, part of the France Télévisions group, and produced by Tony Comiti Productions. They were accompanied by a Togolese fixer, Fred Vedomey, who regularly works with media outlets in this capacity.
Deprived of their liberty since July 27, the trio has now been remanded in custody. The filmmakers entered the country on work visas and obtained authorisation to film, but were charged with making "false declarations" on August 17, according to information obtained by RSF.
Gaël Mocaër, Sebastian Perez Pezzani and Fred Vedomey are being held at the Agoè Logopé camp, near Lomé - a law-enforcement facility located in the district of the same name.
Sebastian is suffering from serious health problems that require immediate medical attention.
"Whilst in Togo, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, accompanied locally by a Togolese fixer, were simply doing their job by filming a documentary series. Deprived of their liberty since July 27, their remand in custody on August 17 is a matter of serious concern. RSF is alarmed by a situation that has now lasted for more than 20 days. The organisation condemns these unjustified and disproportionate proceedings and calls for the immediate release of the French media professionals.
Thibaut Bruttin
Director General of RSF
They were arrested on July 27 by police in Kara in the north of the country, while filming a market located around 12 miles from the border between Togo and Benin. After police questioned them separately for several hours and confiscated their equipment, they were placed under house arrest until July 30. The pair was then briefly released, but arrested again the same day and subsequently transferred to Lomé on August 4.
"Gaël and Sebastian are seasoned, experienced professionals who, from France to Togo, via Indonesia, the Philippines, El Salvador and Venezuela, document people's daily lives for a documentary series with no political purpose whatsoever. We simply tell the stories of people's lives. They travelled to Togo with all the required official documents and in full compliance with the administrative regulations in force. We call on the Togolese authorities to allow them to return to us swiftly. We are also concerned about the health of one of our colleagues.
Tony Comiti Productions
The France Télévisions group is following the situation with apprehension, alongside Tony Comiti Productions, its staff and their loved ones.
"We are devastated by the deprivation of liberty being endured in Togo by our partners, our fathers, our sons and our brothers. Gaël and Sebastian are passionate documentary filmmakers, deeply committed to telling the stories of the people they meet and bearing witness to the realities of their lives. They were in Togo to do their jobs, nothing more. Today, we are extremely concerned, particularly about their health. Sebastian is unwell, and his condition could deteriorate if he does not receive medical attention. We hope for a swift resolution. The uncertainty and anguish weigh daily on the families of the two detained film-makers, who are enduring the painful wait for news and for their release.
Families of Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani
Published on 19.08.2026
RSF - Reporters sans frontières published this content on August 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 20, 2026 at 12:33 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]