French Filmmakers Detained in Togo to Return to France Thursday

French filmmakers Gael Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, arrested in Togo on July 27, will return to France on Thursday morning after being granted provisional release, a diplomatic source told AFP. The two directors, who were filming an episode of the documentary series "Les routes de l'impossible" for France Télévisions, were released on September 1 with permission to leave the country, confirmed the French foreign ministry. They were detained in Lomé along with their Togolese collaborator Fred Vedomey, all charged with "false declarations," which they deny. The Togolese authorities cited irregularities in their mission preparation and execution, including the use of a drone in the tense northern region near Burkina Faso, which faces jihadist incursions. Their production company insists the trio had proper authorization.