On the evening of Sunday, May 26, 2024, as darkness descended upon Zemio, a sub-prefecture nestled within the volatile Haut-Mbomou region of the Central African Republic, a convivial gathering was underway. Within the courtyard of a local bar-restaurant, a group prepared to toast the departure of two visitors. Joseph Figueira, a Belgian-Portuguese researcher, renowned for his expertise on the Peul communities, and his Ivorian colleague, based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, were offering refreshments to approximately fifty local interlocutors. They were nearing the end of a 48-hour field mission, mandated by the American NGO FHI 360, as part of a project call from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Their plan was to return to Bangui the following day.

Figueira’s presence in the Central African Republic was entirely legitimate. He had spent nine days in the country, engaging with numerous officials in the capital and various provinces to lay the groundwork for a future conflict prevention initiative. This collaborative project involved several local and international organizations. However, the festive atmosphere was abruptly shattered when three operatives from the Wagner group, who have served as supplementary forces for the national authorities since 2018, interrupted the event. They were accompanied by a Central African gendarme, who acted as a translator.

Without warning or explanation, the Wagner men seized Joseph Figueira. He was afforded no time to retrieve his documents from the NGO premises where he was staying. Instead, he was immediately taken to the aerodrome, his wrists bound in handcuffs. Despite his impeccable professional standing and the official nature of his mission, the Wagner operatives proceeded to abduct him outside of any legal framework. Figueira was hooded, subjected to physical blows that left his nose bleeding, and forcibly embarked onto an aircraft.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter