Overview
- A Brussels court on March 17 ordered 93-year-old former diplomat Etienne Davignon to stand trial on charges of participation in war crimes linked to Patrice Lumumba’s unlawful detention, transfer, and degrading treatment.
- Judges expanded the case to cover alleged involvement in the killings of Lumumba’s allies Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito.
- Davignon denies wrongdoing and has two weeks to appeal, after his lawyers argued that too much time has passed for a fair trial.
- He is the only surviving suspect among 10 Belgians named by the family, and a trial would be the first criminal proceeding against a Belgian official over the case, with prosecutors and family lawyers indicating proceedings could occur in 2027 if appeals fail.
- The case stems from a 2011 lawsuit by Lumumba’s children and follows a 2002 finding of Belgium’s moral responsibility and the 2022 return of Lumumba’s tooth with official apologies.