Joseph Figueira Martin
Joseph Figueira Martin is a 42-year-old luso-Belgian researcher who arrived in the Central African Republic in May 2024 to work on a humanitarian project aimed at combating poverty with Family Health International 360 (FHI 360), a U.S.-based NGO focused on health. Unfortunately, just two days before his scheduled return to Portugal, he was kidnapped in Zémio by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, who interrogated and tortured him for three days before handing him over to local authorities, where he remains detained.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Joseph Figueira Martin is a humanitarian investigator arbitrarily detained in the Central African Republic since May 2024.
Parlamento Europeu pondera missão diplomática na RCA pela libertação de português | Direitos humanos
Portugal· 2026-01-14
Joseph Figueira Martin was sentenced to ten years of forced labor in the Central African Republic after being kidnapped by the Wagner group.
Português preso há 527 dias na RCA condenado a dez anos de trabalhos forçados | República Centro-AfricanaPortugal· 2025-11-05
Joseph Figueira Martin is a Portuguese-Belgian anthropologist detained in the Central African Republic on charges of espionage and terrorism.
Quem é Joseph Figueira e porque está preso na República Centro Africana? | Podcast P24Portugal· 2025-10-28
Joseph Figueira Martin is a Portuguese humanitarian investigator who has been imprisoned in the Central African Republic for 513 days.
Português sequestrado pelo Grupo Wagner e preso há 513 dias na RCA julgado este mês | Direitos humanosPortugal· 2025-10-21Joseph Figueira Martin is a luso-belgian investigator who was kidnapped in the Central African Republic while working on a humanitarian project.
Português preso há um ano na República Centro-Africana sem liberdade à vista | Direitos humanosPortugal· 2025-05-31