Muthomi Ireri
A European aid worker, Martin Joseph Figueira, who was arrested two months ago in the Central African Republic on spying allegations, has begun a hunger strike to protest his detention conditions, according to his family and the Portuguese honorary consul.
Figueira, a consultant for the American NGO FHI 360, was detained in May. The Central African Republic prosecutor’s office accuses him of communicating with armed groups to plot a coup, threatening national security. However, he has not been formally charged.
Initially held in “relatively good conditions,” Figueira was recently transferred to Camp de Roux, a political prison at army headquarters in Bangui, where conditions are “very difficult,” said Victor Manuel Alves da Rocha, the Portuguese honorary consul. Figueira began a hunger strike three days ago to protest his innocence and the poor detention conditions.
Figueira’s brother, Georges Martin, confirmed to the AP that the hunger strike started on July 14 to protest the unjust accusations and harsh conditions. He described his brother as a “fervent defender of peace” and called the charges false and unjust.
FHI 360 confirmed Figueira’s detention, stating he was in the country to support a project aimed at alleviating poverty, growing economic opportunities, and preventing gender-based violence. The organization expressed hope for a swift resolution and urged the Central African Republic to respect due process and Figueira’s legal rights.
Figueira was arrested in Zemio, a town troubled by fighting between ethnic militias and anti-government rebels for over a decade. Following his arrest, the military and the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which has a significant presence in the country, were deployed to Zemio.
The Central African Republic has been in conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power, ousting then-president François Bozizé. Mostly Christian militias fought back, and although a 2019 peace deal slowed the fighting, six of the 14 armed groups that signed it later withdrew.
Currently, a U.N. peacekeeping mission and Rwandan troops are deployed in the Central African Republic to try to quell the violence and protect civilians.
Dj Vnyash
