APA-Niamey (Niger) – In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 12, the French Foreign Ministry announced the arrest on September 8 by Nigerien security forces of Stephane Jullien, a Niamey-based advisor to the French abroad, and called for “his immediate release.”
In the statement, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs announced that it is following “with the utmost attention” the situation of Jullien, advisor to the French abroad based in Niger, arrested on September 8 by Nigerien security forces. “We demand his immediate release. Since the first day, our embassy has been fully mobilized to ensure the consular protection of our compatriot,” reads the note, which does not specify the reasons for this arrest, which occurred during a diplomatic escalation between Paris and Niamey.
Very different reasons
According to our information, Stephane Julien was arrested on August 8th and is currently being held in the civil prison of Niamey. A judicial source, who requested anonymity, confirmed to APA that the case that led to his arrest has nothing to do with the current tensions between the two countries.
Jullien, who has lived in Niger for about twenty years, runs a removal company in the Sahel (SDI Niger). He is one of the few French citizens who preferred to stay in Niger after the French authorities decided to evacuate their citizens from the country following the coup d’état of July 26. “I am at work, I pay the salaries because people need to be paid. As for us, as long as they let us work, as long as we can continue to work… Personally, I don’t think we have any real problems. Any problems there might be would be isolated problems, people wanting revenge. It can happen, but it will be isolated,” Jullien told RFI at the time.
Since the National Council for the Defense of the Homeland (CNSP) seized power, relations between Niger and France have continued to deteriorate. While Paris continues to question their legitimacy, the new authorities in Niamey denounced the military agreements linking the two countries before announcing the expulsion of the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté. These decisions were rejected by France, which aggravated tensions by accusing the junta of preparing an “aggression” against Niger in collaboration with certain ECOWAS countries in order to restore constitutional order.
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