Demanding the Release of a Kidnapped Researcher in the Central African Republic

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 22 January 2026 demanding the immediate release of Joseph Figueira Martin, a Belgian‑Portuguese humanitarian researcher who was kidnapped on 26 May 2024 in the Central African Republic (CAR) by the Wagner Group. He was handed over to CAR authorities, held in solitary confinement at the OCRB in Bangui, tortured, and kept in inhumane conditions for more than a year without medical care or a fair trial. On 4 November 2025 a Bangui court convicted him of conspiracy and state‑security offences, sentencing him to 10 years of forced labour and ordering him to pay 50 million CFA francs in damages on the basis of unfounded accusations. The Parliament recalls its 10 July 2025 resolution calling for his release, condemns the CAR’s continued non‑compliance, and urges the authorities to allow medical evacuation, access to independent doctors, legal counsel, consular help and family visits in line with human‑rights standards. It calls on the EU Commission, the Council, Belgium and Portugal to impose targeted sanctions—including travel bans and asset freezes—on those responsible for his detention and mistreatment if the CAR persists in violating his rights. The Parliament also requests an ad‑hoc mission to assess his situation and increase pressure for his release, insists that any judicial proceedings must meet due‑process guarantees under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and CAR law, and reiterates its call to list the Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation. Finally, it reminds the EU and its Member States of their duty to protect humanitarian and development workers and condemns arbitrary arrests, detentions or prosecutions that violate international humanitarian law.