Arrested on Wednesday November 13, Marius Bercea is presented as an agent of the DGSE – French intelligence – by Nigerien public television. His arrest comes at a time when relations between France and Niger have been extremely tense since the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, with Niamey regularly accusing Paris of wanting to destabilize the country.
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Marius Bercea was arrested in Niger on Wednesday November 13 while he was there as part of a mission for a private company along with other employees of the same company, according to a French diplomatic source.
For its part, Nigerien public television mentioned his arrest following entry into the country “ fraudulently », last week. Aged around fifty, Marius Bercea would have presented a Romanian passport upon his arrival in Niamey even though he had already come to the country with a French passport.
A former legionnaire converted to security consulting
A former legionnaire, he has now converted to security consulting activities, an activity which has led him to come and work in Niger on several occasions. Télé Sahel claims that he worked in particular as a security officer for the Chinese oil company CNPC.
While the Niger now accuses him of being an agent of the DGSE – French intelligence – against the backdrop of the context of strong tensions between Paris and Niamey since the coup d’état against Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26, 2023, Paris puts for its leaves everything possible to obtain his release.
In the meantime, Marius Bercea benefits from consular protection but as France no longer has diplomatic representation in Niger, another European country should take care of it. Italy, which remains a partner of Niamey, could be best placed. Contacted by RFI, the DGSE did not wish to comment on this information.
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