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.
Quick Summary
A former Belgian diplomat is facing trial in Brussels for his alleged involvement in the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba - Congo's first prime minister. The case reopens a painful chapter in Congolese history.
Summary - read the full story for complete context.

Image: MyJoyOnline
GhanaFront aggregates news from trusted sources. Click to read the original article.
Keywords
Explore related tagsMore from MyJoyOnline
Related Stories
More from Politics

Court throws out prosecution witness statements in Buffer Stock trial
A key legal challenge has emerged in the Buffer Stock trial- but what does it mean for the case?
3d ago•2 min read










