resolution motion, 7 July 2025
On arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic
Motion B-10-2025-0339 · (2025/2797(RSP))
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Sebastião Bugalho, Wouter Beke, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Andrey Kovatchev, Tomas Tobé, Tomáš Zdechovský, Davor Ivo Stier, Łukasz Kohut, Liudas Mažylis, Vangelis Meimarakis, Loránt Vincze, Seán Kelly, Mirosława Nykiel, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Inese Vaidere
AI:In short
The resolution condemns the arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic and urges his immediate release. It calls on CAR authorities to ensure fair trial, medical evacuation, prison reforms, and investigations into torture, and on the EU to increase diplomatic efforts. It expresses concern over the Wagner Group's presence and human rights violations, and stresses the need for targeted EU measures if humanitarian workers are targeted.
Key points
- Urges CAR authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Figueira Martin, ensure his safety, fair trial, and due process, and facilitate his medical evacuation.
- Calls for detention conditions to meet international standards, reforms to the penitentiary system, and an end to arbitrary pre-trial imprisonment.
- Calls on CAR authorities to conduct prompt and independent investigations into all cases of torture and ill-treatment and hold those responsible to account.
- Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative to increase diplomatic efforts with Belgian and Portuguese authorities to secure his release.
- Expresses grave concern over the Wagner Group's presence and influence, which has committed severe human rights violations.
- Stresses the need for targeted EU measures if CAR authorities persist in targeting humanitarian workers, as this opposes the CAR's development interests.
Who is affected
- CAR authorities: must release Figueira Martin, reform prisons, investigate abuses, and stop targeting humanitarian workers.
- EU institutions and member states: must increase diplomatic efforts and consider targeted measures.
- Joseph Figueira Martin: would be released and receive medical care.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 18 paragraphs
B100339/2025
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on 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) of its Rules of Procedure,
whereas Joseph Figueira Martin, a Belgian-Portuguese researcher and development consultant, was kidnapped on 26 May in Zémio, in the Central African Republic (CAR), by the Wagner paramilitary group while working on a development project;
whereas Figueira Martin was tortured and threatened to death by Wagner mercenaries during his abduction and detention in a Wagner camp; whereas he was first transferred to a political prison in Bangui and then to Camp de Roux, a detention facility in a military camp;
whereas he remains in detention without a trial, over one year after his arrest; whereas the CAR authorities charged him on multiple counts, including espionage, conspiracy, terrorism, incitement to revolt, and complicity in undermining state security; whereas CAR authorities have failed to present credible proof for these accusations; whereas in violation of the Central African criminal law, his legal counsel’s request for a conditional release has not been answered; whereas if found guilty, Figueira Martin could face life imprisonment;
whereas Figueira Martin’s health has seriously deteriorated due to prolonged detention in inadequate conditions and a renewed hunger strike;
whereas torture and ill-treatment, malnutrition and poor healthcare are prevalent in prisons within the CAR; whereas CAR authorities are known for their use of pre-trial detention against activists and political opponents;
whereas the CAR hosts the largest contingent of Wagner mercenaries in Africa, with an estimated 1.000 troops; whereas it is one of the countries most negatively affected by Russia’s disinformation campaigns; whereas the CAR should be seen as a warning for Russian interference in the region;
Urges CAR authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Figueira Martin, in the clear absence of credible and substantiated evidence justifying his detention, and to ensure his safety and his right to a fair trial and due process; demands CAR authorities to facilitate his medical evacuation;
Read the rest (6 paragraphs)
Underlines the need for ensuring that conditions of detention meet international human rights standards; calls for the CAR authorities to carry out reforms to its penitentiary system, and to end the practice of arbitrary pre-trial imprisonment;
Calls on CAR authorities to carry out prompt and independent investigations in all cases of torture and ill-treatment, and to hold those responsible to account;
Calls on the VP/HR to increase diplomatic efforts, in coordination with the Belgian and Portuguese authorities, to secure Figueira Martin’s release;
Expressed its grave concern over the presence and significant influence of the Russian sponsored Wagner Group, which has committed a number of severe human rights violations;
Stresses the need for targeted EU measures should CAR authorities persist in targeting humanitarian workers; reminds CAR authorities that this opposes the development interests of the CAR;
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Belgian and Portuguese authorities, the CAR authorities, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Pan-African Parliament.