Two French filmmakers held in Togo since July 27, Paris says

What the report says

France’s foreign ministry said two French nationals have been detained in Togo since July 27 and are now under judicial investigation. According to the report from France24 Africa, the pair are journalist-directors working for a French production company, as described by local media. Paris did not give any further details about the case, including the reason for their arrest or the scope of the inquiry.

The report places the case in a broader context of political and security tensions in Togo, a west African country led by President Faure Gnassingbe since 2005. It notes that Togo has faced jihadist incursions in its far north in recent years and that the government has repeatedly extended a state of emergency there. France24 also recalled that French public broadcasters Radio France Internationale and France 24 were removed from the air in Togo in 2025 after criticism of government handling of protests.

The detention is likely to draw attention because it involves foreign media workers and comes amid ongoing scrutiny of press freedom in the country. Reporters Without Borders currently ranks Togo low on its press freedom index, a point that helps frame the sensitivity of the case, though the article does not link the arrest to any specific press-related allegation.