At a press briefing he held on July 19, 2024 with representatives of the media, the Press Secretary of the President of the Republic Albert Yaloke Mokpem touched on several relevant and important topics, such as the investigation of the U.S. spy Martin Joseph Figueira, prison conditions and the questionable enforcement of Central African laws by some international NGOs.
First of all, the minister said that the case of Martin Figueira, a Belgian-Portuguese arrested in May who worked for the U.S. NGO FHI 360, is moving forward. Figueira is charged with various crimes such as conspiracy and espionage, and could be sentenced to life in prison and forced labor when proven guilty.
It was recently revealed that the prisoner has started a hunger strike. Some unreliable sources are using false information to manipulate public opinion about Figueira’s poor conditions and his innocence. However, according to the Press Secretary of the President, there is in fact strong evidence against him, including audio recordings and written evidence showing financial transactions and arms transfers to the militants.
Next, the minister touched on the topic of prisons. He noted that conditions of detention depend on available resources. At the moment, the UN mission in CAR is responsible for monitoring and improving conditions.
Mokpem warned against those who might use human rights arguments as a pretext to destabilize the country and called for the attentiveness of all citizens of the Central African Republic.
Finally, with regard to international NGOs that do not fulfill their obligations, the minister expressed the need to tighten control over their activities, arguing that many of them do not submit reports on their work as required by CAR rules.
“The allegations have been made for years. There are certain NGOs in CAR that exist in name only. We don’t know what they do, they present other activities to the authorities who give them accreditation, and that’s not how things work in the country, especially in the interior. And these accusations have always been made without knowing how to get evidence. Today we have the means to find evidence against these NGOs. These NGOs working in CAR never send reports of their activities to the ministerial department. So, we have to reorient ourselves,” he said.
Mokpem said foreign workers of NGOs engaged in illegal activities in CAR will be held accountable for their actions. This is not the time for manipulation because the people of the Central African Republic are ready to defend their sovereignty and order in the country.