The government’s first public comments on the case reveal accusations of unauthorized drone use in areas vulnerable to jihadist attacks, while the production company insists all permits were in order.
LOMÉ, Togo – For the first time since the arrest of two French documentary filmmakers and their Togolese fixer in late July, Togo’s government has publicly detailed the allegations against them, stating on Saturday that it possesses “serious and corroborative evidence” to justify their continued detention.
The joint statement from the Ministries of Justice and Security revealed that the core of the case revolves around the use of a drone in regions deemed particularly sensitive due to the persistent threat of jihadist incursions. According to the authorities, the film crew—comprising French nationals Gaël Mocaër and Sébastian Perez Pezzani, alongside their Togolese colleague Fred Vedomey—allegedly violated the terms of their authorization.
The government claims that while the team did secure a filming permit, it was signed exclusively by the fixer, Vedomey, and not by the French directors themselves. Furthermore, officials assert that the authorization was “strictly limited” to explicitly defined geographic areas, which the crew allegedly overstepped. The statement also cited “several irregularities” in the execution of their assignment, though it did not elaborate on the specifics of these claims.
The three men were arrested on July 27 and have been in pre-trial detention since. They appeared before prosecutors on August 17 alongside their lawyer, Martial Akakpo, who has firmly maintained his clients’ innocence. The charge currently leveled against the trio is making “false declarations.”
A Clash of Narratives
The government’s assertions stand in stark contrast to the account provided by the filmmakers’ production company, Tony Comiti Productions. The company, which was producing the documentary for France Télévisions, has vehemently defended the crew’s conduct, insisting that they fully complied with all local regulations.
Patrice Lucchini, head of the production company, previously stated that the filmmakers had obtained all necessary filming permits and had properly declared their equipment to Togolese customs upon arrival. The discrepancy between official permissions and the government’s claims of irregularities now lies at the heart of the legal standoff.
Health Concerns and International Pressure
Adding urgency to the case are grave health concerns regarding Sébastian Perez Pezzani. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has highlighted that Pezzani suffers from serious pre-existing medical conditions that require urgent treatment. A Togolese physician has reportedly warned that without immediate intervention, the filmmaker faces a significant risk of developing sepsis—a potentially life-threatening condition.
RSF has renewed its call for the trio’s immediate and unconditional release, describing their detention as deeply concerning. The families of the two Frenchmen, quoted in an RSF statement, expressed they were “devastated” by the incarceration of their loved ones.
As the legal process continues, the case has drawn sharp international attention, balancing Togo’s national security concerns—particularly regarding drone activity in conflict-prone regions—against mounting freedom-of-expression and humanitarian appeals from press freedom advocates and the filmmakers’ families.
