Belgium orders ex-diplomat to stand trial for 1961 murder of Congo's Lumumba

Etienne Davignon was ordered to stand trial on Tuesday in Brussels. The court ordered the former diplomat to stand trial over the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of Congo.

Lumumba was killed on January 16, 1961, by Belgian-backed secessionist rebels. Davignon, who is 93 years old, is accused of war crimes. Prosecutors say Davignon participated in the unlawful detention or transfer of Lumumba and deprived him of his right to an impartial trial. He is also accused of involvement in the murders of two of Lumumba’s political allies, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito. All the other suspects in the case have died. A Belgian parliamentary investigation concluded in 2002 that Belgium was “morally responsible” for his death. Yema Lumumba, Lumumba’s granddaughter, told Reuters after the ruling: “It is a step in the right direction. What we want is to search for truth and establish different responsibilities.”

Davignon was not present in the courtroom on Tuesday, and his lawyer declined to comment.