News|CourtsEx-Belgian diplomat ordered to stand trial over murder of Congo’s LumumbaEtienne Davignon, 93, is the only one alive among 10 Belgians accused by the Congolese leader’s family of complicity.
A Brussels court has mandated that a 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat stand trial for involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Mon, Jan 16, 1961.
A Brussels court has mandated that a 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat stand trial for involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Mon, Jan 16, 1961.
Following Congo's independence from Belgium on Fri, Jun 24, 1960, Lumumba was removed from office in September of the same year. He was subsequently killed by a secessionist rebel group supported by Belgium.
In 2002, a parliamentary investigation concluded that Belgium bore "moral responsibility" for Lumumba’s death. On Tue, Etienne Davignon, a former European commissioner and junior diplomat at the time, is set to face trial, marking the first legal proceedings connected to Lumumba's assassination.
Davignon is also accused of involvement in the murders of Lumumba’s political allies, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito. Prosecutors allege that Davignon participated in Lumumba's unlawful detention and transfer, denying him the right to a fair trial. Additionally, they claim he subjected Lumumba to "humiliating and degrading treatment." If the trial proceeds, Davignon will be the first Belgian official tried in connection with the events of 1961.
Following Congo's independence from Belgium on Fri, Jun 24, 1960, Lumumba was removed from office in September of the same year.
While ten individuals were implicated in Lumumba's murder, Davignon is the sole living suspect. The case was initiated by Lumumba’s family and later adopted by Belgian federal prosecutors.
Patrice Lumumba emerged as an anti-colonial figure during the 1960s as African nations sought independence. Despite his short-lived administration, Lumumba became a symbol of resistance. He was executed at the age of 35 in the Katanga region, with Belgian-backed mercenaries involved.
The only known remains of Lumumba, a gold-capped tooth, were retrieved from the family of a deceased Belgian officer linked to his disappearance. In 2022, these remains were returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo during a formal ceremony. On this occasion, the Belgian government reiterated its "apologies" for its "moral responsibility" regarding Lumumba's death.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
