Belgium – Hilde Vautmans, Jan. 22, 2026
Joseph Figueira Martin, the Belgian-Portuguese humanitarian aid worker, has been unjustly detained in the Central African Republic (CAR) for more than six hundred days. His health is visibly deteriorating. As Chair of the EU-Africa Delegation, Member of the European Parliament Hilde Vautmans last week invited Martin’s family and Olivier Vandecasteele to share his story, while also reinforcing the call by Vautmans and MEP Wouter Beke (CD&V) for a European resolution. That call was heard.
Hilde Vautmans, lead negotiator of the resolution: “We are talking about the life of a European citizen. That is why we are not asking for words, but for action: his immediate and unconditional release, targeted sanctions against those responsible, political pressure on the authorities concerned, and the recognition of Wagner as a terrorist organization. That is also why we want to travel to the CAR with a parliamentary delegation to exert pressure and assess his situation with our own eyes.
Wouter and I will continue to advocate for his release from within the European Parliament. Every week. Every month. Until he is free. Because those who remain silent today accept the unacceptable.”
