Alleged US Spy Faces Trial for Terrorism Ties in Central African Republic

The case of an alleged spy of the United States of America (USA) working for rebel groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) has played out within the judicial system of the country since May 30, 2024.

Martin Joseph Figueira, a dual citizen of Belgium and Portugal, has been accused of spying on behalf of the United States. He previously worked for FHI 360, an American non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Martin was arrested on May 30, 2024, in the Bangui area of CAR for allegedly working to destabilise the administration of President Faustin Archange Touadera by providing intelligence to rebel groups operating in the country to overthrow the government.

Certain diplomatic sources in Bangui and Paris described him as a Belgo-Portuguese researcher. The two countries, whose nationality he is said to hold, have been very silent recently over the serious accusations against Martin.

Sources from the state prosecutor’s office in Bangui claimed to have evidence proving his involvement with leaders of armed groups, providing them with crucial information on the CAR’s army positions. He was also accused of promoting terrorist propaganda and encouraging the creation of an Islamic State branch with ties to several African countries, including the DR Congo, Chad, Sudan, Mauritania, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

The lawyer for the accused, Nicolas Tiangaye, said the case against Martins would come up in court this March and that he intends to plead for the acquittal of his client. He claimed he would deposit a memo “based on which the judge of the Bangui high court will have to rule on the guilt or not” of his client.

Meanwhile, the brother of the accused, George Figueira Martin, has described the arrest of his brother as “a misunderstanding” and admitted that his brother had been communicating with leaders of armed Peul groups but that he was merely in search of solutions to the conflict in the country.

George claimed that Belgian, Portuguese, and European authorities have been unresponsive following his brother’s arrest. His claim was tagged “inaccurate” as both authorities reacted swiftly after the arrest. The silence from these authorities over the past few months can be attributed to the discovery of concrete evidence supporting the charges against George’s brother, sources said.

Should he be found guilty, Martin Figueira risks life imprisonment with hard labour under Central African Republic law.