Greek American journalist Nicolas Niarchos taken into custody by DRC intelligence
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Greek-American journalist Stavros Nikolas Niarchos was arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo by local intelligence services.
This, because he reached out to armed organizations operating in the southeast of the country, as a high-ranking government official reported today.
According to civil society organizations cited by local media, the journalist, who is the grandson of shipowner Stavros Niarchos, and a Congolese colleague were arrested on Wednesday in Lubumbashi, in southeastern Congo, and taken to the capital Kinshasa.
Niarchos is being held in 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 took ournalist Nicolas Niarchos to Kinshasa to question him about his close contacts with armed groups, especially the Bakata Katanga," the same source added.
"Government 'must be vigilant' after 2017 killing of two UN members"
"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 Niarchos, 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.
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