As twilight descended on Zemio this Sunday, May 26, 2024, an atmosphere of camaraderie filled the courtyard of a local bar-restaurant in the Haut-Mbomou sub-prefecture. This region of the Central African Republic is known for its persistent community conflicts. A gathering of approximately fifty individuals had assembled to bid farewell to two visiting experts. Among them was Joseph Figueira, a Belgian-Portuguese researcher, and his Ivorian colleague, who resides in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. They were offering refreshments to their local counterparts, having been dispatched by the American NGO FHI 360 to conduct a field assessment, part of a project initiated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Their return to Bangui was scheduled for the following day, after a 48-hour stay. However, the convivial scene was abruptly interrupted by three men identified as members of the Wagner group, who have served as a supplementary force to national authorities in the Central African Republic since 2018. They were accompanied by a Central African gendarme, acting as an interpreter.
Without hesitation, the Wagner operatives seized Joseph Figueira. The humanitarian specialist, a recognized expert on the Fulani people, was given no opportunity to retrieve his identification documents from the NGO’s premises where he was staying. He was immediately taken into custody at the aerodrome, his wrists bound in handcuffs.
Figueira’s presence in the Central African Republic was entirely legitimate; he had been in the country for nine days, engaging with numerous officials in both the capital and provincial areas to lay the groundwork for an upcoming local conflict prevention initiative, in collaboration with various local and international organizations. Despite his fully compliant status, the Wagner personnel proceeded to forcibly remove him, hooding him and subjecting him to physical abuse that left his nose bleeding, all outside any recognized legal framework. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about African politics and the actions of non-state actors in the region.
Without hesitation, the Wagner operatives seized Joseph Figueira. The humanitarian specialist, a recognized expert on the Fulani people, was given no opportunity to retrieve his identification documents from the NGO’s premises where he was staying. He was immediately taken into custody at the aerodrome, his wrists bound in handcuffs.
Figueira’s presence in the Central African Republic was entirely legitimate; he had been in the country for nine days, engaging with numerous officials in both the capital and provincial areas to lay the groundwork for an upcoming local conflict prevention initiative, in collaboration with various local and international organizations. Despite his fully compliant status, the Wagner personnel proceeded to forcibly remove him, hooding him and subjecting him to physical abuse that left his nose bleeding, all outside any recognized legal framework. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about African politics and the actions of non-state actors in the region.
