Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001737/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Francisco Assis (S&D)
On 26 May 2024, Joseph Figueira Martin, a humanitarian researcher and dual citizen of Belgium and Portugal, was abducted by the Wagner Group in Zémio, a city in the east of the Central African Republic, under the pretext of being the holder of two passports, while working as a consultant on behalf of the American non-profit organisation Family Health International (FHI) 360.
He was tortured for several days before being transferred to Bangui. Here, he was handed over to the Central African Republic authorities and subsequently detained at the Office central pour la répression du banditisme (OCRB), under the accusation of being an American spy. On 5 July 2024, he was transferred from the OCRB to the military prison at Camp de Roux and has been awaiting legal proceedings ever since. The penalties for the charges brought against him are life imprisonment and forced labour.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) duly following the case of this EU citizen, who has been in prison for almost a year?
- 2.What relevant EU mechanisms have been mobilised to address his dire situation?
- 3.What steps will the VP/HR take to ensure that Figueira Martin is treated in a humane manner and has access to a fair and independent trial?
Submitted: 30.4.2025