Congo: The secret services arrested the Greek-American journalist Stavros Nikolas Niarchos

The secret services of the People’s Republic of Congo proceeded to arrest the Greek-American journalist Stavros Nikolaos Niarchos.

The secret services arrested him because he approached armed organizations operating in the southeast of the country, as reported today by a high-ranking government official.

According to civil society organizations cited by local media, the journalist and a Congolese colleague were arrested on Wednesday in Lubumbashi, in southeastern Congo, and taken to the capital Kinshasa.

A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest to AFP, saying Niarchos is being held in Kinshasa by the ANR intelligence agency. The 33-year-old journalist, who works with the American magazines The Nation and The New Yorker, had been in contact with local armed groups, he added.

“The ANR transferred the journalist Nicolas Niarcho to Kinshasa to interrogate him for his close contacts with armed groups, especially the Bakata Katanga,” the same img added.

“He made moves without first notifying the authorities,” the official continued, arguing that the government “must be vigilant” after the killing of two UN members in 2017. The United Nations had sent experts Michael Sharpe and Zaida Catalan to investigate the violence. in the region of Kasai, in central DR Congo, where they were kidnapped and murdered.

The Congolese official confirmed that the American consul had visited Niarcho, who may be released tomorrow as local authorities “have no interest in keeping him”.

Niarchos went to DR Congo to report on conservation, economy and culture for The Nation magazine, according to his official accreditation.

The journalist is the first-born son of Spyros Niarchos and Daphne Guinness, grandson of the legendary shipowner Stavros Niarchos and nephew of billionaire Philippos Niarchos.

Source: News Beast

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