What changed

on the case of Joseph Figueira Martin

B100096/2026

B100094/2026

European Parliament resolution on the Case of Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic

(2026/2572(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rulesits 150(5)previous ofresolutions itson Rulesthe ofCentral Procedure,African Republic (CAR);

having regard to itsRule resolution150 of 10 July 2025 on theits caseRules of Joseph Figueira Martin,Procedure;

whereas Joseph Figueira Martin, a Belgian-Portuguese 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;

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whereas on November 4, 2025, a Criminal Court sentenced Joseph Figueira Martin to ten years of hard labour based on forged charges of espionage and terrorism notably; whereas his trial was marked by numerous intentional procedural errors; whereas he appealed against this sentence;

whereas Mr. Martin has been held in an overpopulated prison under inhumane conditions, without access to healthcare despite his deteriorating health situation;

whereas armed groups operating in the CAR have been carrying out illegal and arbitrary arrests and detentions; whereas Russia-linked actors are spreading a pattern of foreign disinformation, notably against humanitarian workers, and manipulation operations in CAR;

whereas disinformation methods and lies were used against him to detain him;

whereas the EU supports CAR population, providing humanitarian, security and development aid, and fill the gap left by other donors; whereas respect of human rights, democracy and governance are priority areas of partnership with ACP countries under the Samoa Agreement;

whereas in October 2025, Mr. Martin was sentenced, based on unfounded accusations and without a fair trial, to 10 years of hard labour, and a fine of 50 million CFA francs for undermining state security and criminal association;

Urges the CAR authorities to overturn the conviction of Joseph Figueira Martin and immediately and unconditionally release him;

whereas the Central African Republic continues to face systemic challenges related to the rule of law, judicial independence, and prison conditions;

Calls on the HR/VP and Member States to take all possible steps, in coordination with Belgian and Portuguese authorities, to secure Joseph Figueira Martin’s release and ensure his rights are upheld including access to legal defence, consular assistance, and adequate healthcare;

whereas the protection of individuals against arbitrary arrest and detention is a core obligation under the ICCPR and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;

Urges the EU and its Member States to critically engage with the CAR authorities to ensure the protection of the humanitarian workers and the upholding of their rights in respect of the international humanitarian law;

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Reiterates its call on the Council to include the Wagner Group on the EU terrorist list; expresses deep concern over growing politically motivated foreign interference in the CAR, including through Russian paramilitary forces and disinformation campaigns; calls on the CAR authorities to ensure that armed groups immediately cease illegal and arbitrary arrests and attacks against humanitarian and NGO workers;

Strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment, torture and sentencing of Joseph Figueira Martin;

Calls on the EU to strengthen the protection of humanitarian workers and for the establishment of a European mechanism for the protection of humanitarian workers worldwide;

Urges the CAR authorities to release Joseph Figueira Martin immediately; stresses that detaining and sentencing him without due process infringes on his fundamental rights and clearly violates international standards of justice; urges the CAR authorities to ensure him access to medical services, to family visits, legal representation and consular in accordance with international human rights standards;

Calls on the Council and the HR/VP to consider the adoption of targeted restrictive measures against those responsible of Human Rights violations in CAR, including related to the arbitrary detention of Joseph Figueira-Martin;

Strongly condemns any form of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment or torture, and recalls that such practices are strictly prohibited under international law and can never be justified;

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

Calls on the EU Delegation in Bangui, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and the Member States’ diplomatic missions to closely monitor the case, to seek access to the detainee, and to raise the matter with the CAR authorities at the highest political level;

Express its sympathy with Mr Martin’s family and calls on the EU and its Member States to assist him and his family in any way possible;

Expresses deep concern about the strong Russian influence and deteriorating human rights situation in the CAR; calls to counter the malign Russian presence and propaganda narratives in the CAR and the wider region; strongly condemns the Wagner Group/Africa Corps’ involvement in widespread human rights abuses; reiterates its call to the Council to designate the Wagner Group/Africa Corps as a terrorist organisation;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the CAR Government, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union and the International Court of Justice.