--- title: "Two French journalists detained in Togo on visa charges after filming near restricted zone" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/two-french-journalists-detained-in-togo-on-visa-charges-after-filming-near-restr" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/two-french-journalists-detained-in-togo-on-visa-charges-after-filming-near-restr" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/two-french-journalists-detained-in-togo-on-visa-charges-after-filming-near-restr.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/two-french-journalists-detained-in-togo-on-visa-charges-after-filming-near-restr" category: "Media" area: "Africa" published: "2026-08-19T17:46:22.531Z" source_reported: "2026-08-19T17:16:16.298Z" updated: "2026-08-19T17:46:22.531Z" trust_score: 55 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-19T19:00:58.418231+00:00" --- # Two French journalists detained in Togo on visa charges after filming near restricted zone *Sebastian Perez-Pezzani and Gaël Mocaër face 'false statements' allegations after arrest on 27 July* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 55 of 100, higher is better. Only one outlet provided a full report; others rely on digests or AFP. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Quotes and specific details limited to one full report. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use mild emphasis without overstatement. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Two French journalists, Sebastian Perez-Pezzani and Gaël Mocaër, were arrested on 27 July while filming in northern Togo for France 5’s documentary series 'Les routes de l’impossible'. - They were initially placed under house arrest but re-arrested hours later and now face charges of 'false statements' related to their visas, according to the Togolese authorities. - Their production company, Tony Comiti Productions, states their visas and filming permits were valid, and that the journalists unknowingly entered a restricted zone near Kara. - The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the journalists are subject to a judicial investigation and that consular visits have taken place. Two French journalists were arrested in Togo on 27 July while filming for the France 5 documentary series 'Les routes de l’impossible'. Sebastian Perez-Pezzani and Gaël Mocaër were detained in the northern region of Kara, approximately 450 kilometres from the capital, Lomé. Their production company, Tony Comiti Productions, said the journalists were unaware they had entered a restricted zone for media. The journalists were initially placed under house arrest after their arrest but were re-arrested hours later. They are now detained in Lomé and face charges of 'false statements' regarding their visas, as reported by multiple outlets. Their passports and raw footage were confiscated during the arrest. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on 18 August that the journalists are subject to a judicial investigation. Tony Comiti, founder of the production company, told France Inter that the journalists’ visas and filming permits were in order. He described them as experienced professionals accustomed to difficult assignments. The company’s managing director, Patrice Lucchini, told Agence France-Presse that one of the journalists is unwell, though he did not specify the nature of the illness. ## What the coverage left out No centre-rated outlet ran this story. None of the digests or the full report from franceinfo.fr included the names of the Togolese collaborators arrested alongside the journalists. The right-rated digest from Le Figaro did not mention the restricted zone or the initial accusation of espionage, which was reported by franceinfo.fr and corroborated by the left-rated digests. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 83% (5) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 17% (1) 2 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-19T19:00:58.418231+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-19T19:15:15.047Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The four left-rated digests and the full report from franceinfo.fr led on the legal uncertainty surrounding the journalists’ detention. franceinfo.fr quoted Tony Comiti saying the situation is 'blocked' and that their lawyer has not been granted access to the case file. The outlet also reported Comiti’s claim that the journalists were accused of espionage before being charged with 'false declarations of visas'. - Libération’s digest mentioned that the condition of one journalist, Sebastian Perez-Pezzani, is 'worrying', according to his family. JeuneAfrique.com’s digest noted that the journalists and their Togolese collaborators were granted permission to shoot, citing unnamed sources. La Dépêche du Midi’s digest described the journalists as having been 'left to make a production' for France 5. - franceinfo.fr’s full report included Comiti’s account of the journalists unknowingly crossing into a restricted zone, a detail absent from the right-rated digest. The outlet also quoted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that consular visits have taken place and that the ministry is monitoring the journalists’ health and legal rights. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Le Figaro’s digest, the only right-rated report, led on the production company’s assurance that the journalists’ paperwork was in order. The digest quoted Patrice Lucchini, managing director of Tony Comiti Productions, stating that the journalists were 'in good order' and that one of them is sick. It did not mention the restricted zone or the accusation of espionage. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Liberation](https://liberation.fr/international/afrique/les-deux-francais-detenus-au-togo-inculpes-pour-fausses-declarations-20260819_BMK3TDRPYBAIPGQQZTPHVCPXKY) — The Two French Detainees in Togo Charged with "False Statements" - [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2026/08/19/l-arrestation-de-deux-journalistes-francais-au-togo-reflet-de-la-degradation-des-relations-entre-paris-et-lome_6749891_3212.html) — The Arrest of Two French Journalists in Togo, a Reflection of the ... - [Le Figaro](https://lefigaro.fr/international/togo-les-deux-realisateurs-francais-detenus-sont-en-regle-et-l-un-d-eux-est-malade-assure-leur-societe-de-production-20260819) — Togo: the Two French Directors Detained Are "in Good Order" and One of Them Is Sick, Insures Their Production Company - [La Dépêche du Midi](https://ladepeche.fr/2026/08/19/deux-ressortissants-francais-detenus-au-togo-ce-que-lon-sait-sur-les-deux-journalistes-partis-realiser-une-production-13514694.php) — Two French Nationals Detained in Togo: What We Know About the Two Journalists Who Made a Production - [JeuneAfrique.com](https://jeuneafrique.com/1836114/politique/togo-ce-que-lon-sait-de-larrestation-des-deux-journalistes-francais-places-en-detention-a-lome) — Togo: What Is Known About the Arrest of the Two French Journalists Detained in Lomé - [parismatch.com](https://parismatch.com/culture/medias/deux-realisateurs-pour-france-5-arretes-au-togo-le-quai-dorsay-mobilise-274347) — Two Directors for France 5 Arrested in Togo, the Quai d'Orsay Mobilized - [franceinfo.fr](https://franceinfo.fr/monde/afrique/togo/francais-detenus-au-togo-la-situation-des-deux-journalistes-arretes-est-bloquee-regrette-le-fondateur-de-leur-societe-de-production_8153597.html) — French Detainees in Togo: the Situation of the Two Journalists Arrested "Is Blocked", Regrets the Founder of Their Production Company - [midilibre.fr](https://midilibre.fr/2026/08/19/ils-tournaient-pour-lemission-les-routes-de-limpossible-deux-journalistes-francais-arretes-et-retenus-au-togo-depuis-le-27-juillet-13514380.php) — They Were Filming for the Show "Les Routes De l'Impossible": Two French Journalists Arrested and Detained in Togo Since 27 July ## Questions **Why were the two French journalists arrested in Togo?** The journalists were arrested on 27 July while filming in northern Togo for France 5’s 'Les routes de l’impossible'. Togolese authorities charged them with 'false statements' regarding their visas. Their production company claims they unknowingly entered a restricted zone near Kara and that their permits were valid. **What charges do the journalists face?** The journalists face charges of 'false statements' related to their visas, according to the Togolese authorities. Their production company insists their visas and filming permits were in order. The French foreign ministry confirmed they are subject to a judicial investigation. **Which outlets reported on the journalists’ health?** Libération’s digest reported that the condition of Sebastian Perez-Pezzani is 'worrying', according to his family. Le Figaro’s digest, the only right-rated report, quoted the production company saying one journalist is sick, though it did not specify the illness. **Did any centre-rated outlet cover this story?** No centre-rated outlet ran this story. The reports were published by left-rated and right-rated outlets, as well as two unrated ones. The absence of centre-rated coverage is noted in the omissions section. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/two-french-journalists-detained-in-togo-on-visa-charges-after-filming-near-restr. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Two French journalists detained in Togo on visa charges after filming near restricted zone", https://mediabias.news/media/two-french-journalists-detained-in-togo-on-visa-charges-after-filming-near-restr