Gaël Mocaër, one of two French journalists arrested in Togo in July, gave his first testimony upon returning to France after more than a month in detention. Mocaër and his colleague Sebastian Perez Pezzani, along with their Togolese collaborator Fred Vedomey, were arrested on July 27 while filming an episode of the documentary series "Les routes de l'impossible" for France Télévisions in northern Togo. Perez Pezzani was released at the end of August under judicial supervision to receive treatment in the capital, Lomé. Mocaër described his detention conditions as "not bad," though he noted that both he and Perez Pezzani had lost significant weight during their time in custody. Mocaër said he lost five kilograms in the last week of detention, while Perez Pezzani lost nine kilograms in the first week. Mocaër described returning to Paris less than 48 hours after being released from custody as destabilizing, noting the abrupt contrast between his recent experience in a cell and his current life in Paris. The French government had mobilized efforts to secure the journalists' release, as the Togolese judiciary had opened an investigation against them. Togo, led by President Faure Gnassingbé since 2005, has been dealing with jihadist incursions from Burkina Faso since the end of 2021. The government imposed a state of emergency in the northern region in 2022, which was renewed most recently in February for a one-year period. This context has contributed to a tense atmosphere in the region, where security concerns have led to restrictions on media activities. In June 2025, Radio France Internationale and France 24 were banned from broadcasting in Togo for three months, accused of relaying "inaccurate and biased statements" following critical demonstrations against the regime. These media outlets remain banned, according to an AFP journalist. In April, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot advocated for the lifting of the ban during a visit to Togo, the first high-level French visit to the country in ten years. His visit underscored France's continued engagement with Togo, despite the ongoing tensions surrounding press freedom and political dissent.