A Belgian court has ordered a 93-year-old former diplomat to stand trial over his alleged role in the 1961 assassination of Congo’s independence leader, Patrice Lumumba.
Étienne Davignon, a former senior European official and the only surviving suspect among several Belgians linked to the killing, is accused of involvement in war crimes tied to Lumumba’s detention and transfer before his execution.
Prosecutors allege that Davignon, who was a junior diplomat at the time, played a part in the “unlawful detention” and “degrading treatment” of Lumumba, ultimately depriving him of a fair trial.
Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister after independence from Belgium in 1960, was overthrown within months and executed in January 1961 amid political turmoil and Cold War tensions.
For decades, his death has remained a symbol of colonial interference in Africa, with a Belgian parliamentary inquiry in 2002 acknowledging the country’s “moral responsibility” but stopping short of criminal accountability.
The latest ruling marks the first time a former Belgian official could face criminal trial over the assassination. Davignon, who has denied any wrongdoing, is expected to challenge the decision, with proceedings potentially beginning in 2027 if appeals fail.
Lumumba’s family welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited step toward justice. “This is the beginning of a reckoning that history has long demanded,” relatives said, expressing hope that the trial will finally uncover the truth behind the killing.
