2024-03-26 19:24:44
His life, he says, “is here in France”. For Wenceslas Bouassa, a race against time has begun. On April 3, this father must be expelled from France to be sent back to Gabon, his native country. His request for asylum was rejected (see box below). But there, nothing awaits him, except the risk of being thrown in prison. “We fled because threats weighed on us,” he modestly confesses.
In June 2019, this psychologist and his wife, a French teacher, left Gabon on the sly, accompanied by their son Josué, aged 2. “Mr. Bouassa was the subject of serious persecution because of his political opinions and especially his action for the benefit of members of the opposition during the 2016 presidential election,” recalls his lawyer, Jean-Charles Paras, in a letter addressed to the administrative court of appeal of Lyon. “Threatened” then “arrested several times” to be “questioned about his links with the opponents”, Wenceslas decided to go to France to ask for asylum, after “a final attack”.
“I thought that having a permanent job would prove my integration”
The couple set down their bags in August 2019, before being taken care of by the association “Un roof, c’est tout” in Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, near Saint-Etienne. After working voluntarily as a market gardener, the father went to the Brasserie de l’Industrie, where he landed a job as a kitchen assistant. “It’s a job that I love. I learned on the job and improved. I get along well with my work colleagues,” emphasizes Wenceslas, aged 46.
On a permanent contract for a year and a half, the man says he is “looking to settle down”. “I don’t want to leave my wife, who teaches French for the Red Cross. And neither do my children. My daughter was born here. I thought that having a job would prove my integration, especially since there is no language barrier,” he continues. So he cannot resolve “to give up everything overnight and start again”. Just like his employer, Thierry Grange, the manager of the brewery.
“Humanly, he is a very respectable person”
“I think it has its place here, in France,” he emphasizes behind his counter. Professionally, I need it because it contributes to the smooth running of the company. From the start, we had good contact. We took on the challenge together of integrating him into a kitchen and teaching him the trade. He was always enthusiastic. Given his skills and his attitude in the team, we decided to keep him with us.”
“Humanly, he is a very respectable person”, supports Thierry Grange, who is “careful not to want to make it a political fight”. “I just think he deserves to stay. He is independent, he pays his rent and his utilities, he is declared, he has a job. He is not someone who remains dependent. He makes his life with us, like everyone else. »
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