On June 29, 2024, a press conference was held by Albert Yaloke Mokpemу, Minister Delegate, Communications Advisor and Spokesman to the President of the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Minister raised a topical issue concerning the case of a foreign national, Martin Joseph Figueira, suspected of spying in the service of the US government.
It will be recalled that the suspect was arrested on May 25, 2024 in Zemio, in the Haut-Mbomou region in the southeast of CAR.
According to Albert Yaloke Mokpeme, the allegations made against Martin Joseph Figueira, who was arrested by members of the Defense and Security Forces and Russian allied forces, are not a fabrication.
Following the arrest of the alleged spy, the Prosecutor’s Office at the High Court of Bangui issued a press release about the active investigation of the case.
The presidential spokesman, said that according to the interim results of the investigation of the case, there is already enough material to prove the illegal activities of this Belgian citizen of Portuguese origin.
The wiretaps and the study of messages prove that Martin Joseph Figueira had several contacts with the leaders of armed groups.
Moreover, he provided them with strategic information on various FACA positions.
It has also been documented that there have been transfers of money and weapons to rebel groups.
The same information is pointed out by the prosecutor of the Republic, Benoit Narcisse Foukpio, who issued with a press release stating that “the investigation launched on May 30, 2024, revealed actions that can be attributed to violating the penal code. Namely, Mr. Martin Joseph Figueira identified himself as an employee of an American NGO (FHI 360) conducting a study of Fulani herdsmen. All this is a cover, for his criminal activities.
The accused holds two passports’ Portuguese and Belgian, working for the American NGO, but none of the three embassies of these countries have responded so far.
According to the Minister-Delegate, investigators will go to these embassies to verify whether Mr. Figueira holds the said nationalities.
“The case has been taken to court and I support the communiqué issued by the prosecutor outlining the charges against these people and the communiqué issued by the prosecutor is authoritative” -insists Albert Yaloke Mokpeme.
Figueira spy case commended by CAR presidential spokesman, Lazarus Odenge
