Hellenic-American journalist Stavros Nikolas Niarchos was arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the intelligence services for approaching armed organizations operating in the country’s southeast, a high-ranking government official said today.

According to civil society organizations cited by local media, the journalist, 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.

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 US magazines ‘The Nation’ and ‘The New Yorker’, had been in contact with local armed groups, he added.

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

“He made moves without first notifying the authorities,” the official continued, arguing that the government must be vigilant after killing 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 has visited Niarchos, who may be released tomorrow as local authorities have no interest in detaining him.

Niarchos went to DR Congo to report on the protection of nature, economy, and culture, on behalf of ‘The Nation’ magazine, according to his official accreditation, APA MPA reports.

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