Arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic

European Parliament resolution of 10 July 2025 on the arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic (2025/2797(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas Joseph Figueira Martin, a dual Belgian-Portuguese citizen and humanitarian researcher working for the NGO FHI 360, was kidnapped on 26 May 2024 in the Central African Republic (CAR) by the Wagner Group and later handed over to the CAR authorities;

B.whereas CAR brought charges against him based on unfounded accusations, including espionage and terrorism, for which he could face lifetime imprisonment and forced labour;

C.whereas he was held at the OCRB in Bangui in solitary confinement and was tortured and threatened with death; whereas he has remained in detention under inhumane conditions and without trial for over a year, and a request for his conditional release has not been answered, in violation of CAR criminal law;

D.whereas his health has deteriorated dramatically and medical assessments state that he requires urgent evacuation;

E.whereas armed groups operating in CAR have been carrying out illegal and arbitrary arrests and detentions;

F.whereas CAR is severely affected by Russia’s disinformation campaigns and hosts one of the largest contingents of Wagner Group mercenaries;

G.whereas the EU supports CAR’s population, providing humanitarian, security and development aid;

H.whereas Mr Martin’s case has been identified by the UN and the EU as one that reflects a broader pattern of disinformation and anti-Western rhetoric fostered by Russian-linked actors in CAR;

1.Demands that the CAR authorities immediately and unconditionally release Mr Martin, given the absence of credible and substantiated evidence justifying his detention;

2.Urges the CAR authorities to allow his medical evacuation and ensure his access to legal representation, consular assistance and appropriate care in accordance with international human rights standards;

3.Strongly condemns the human rights violations committed through the arbitrary, continued and inhuman detention of Mr Martin, seriously threatening his life and health;

4.Insists that any judicial proceedings strictly comply with due process guarantees enshrined in the ICCPR and the applicable provisions of CAR’s national legal framework;

5.Calls on the CAR authorities to ensure that the armed groups operating in CAR immediately cease illegal and arbitrary arrests and attacks on humanitarian and NGO workers;

6.Calls for ensuring accountability for rights’ violations and abuses;

7.Condemns the growing politically motivated foreign interference in CAR, including through Russian paramilitary forces and disinformation campaigns; reiterates its call on the Council to designate the Wagner Group a terrorist organisation;

8.Stresses that respect for human rights is crucial for good EU-CAR cooperation;

9.Calls on the VP/HR to take all possible steps, in coordination with the Belgian and Portuguese authorities, including by raising Mr Martin’s case in the EU-CAR political dialogue, to secure his release and ensure that his rights are upheld; stresses the need for targeted EU measures should the CAR authorities persist in violating his rights;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Government and Parliament of CAR, the AU and the UN.