Assassination of Patrice Lumumba: Etienne Davignon referred to the criminal court

Brussels, March 17^th, 2026 (CPA).-  The Brussels Council Chamber has referred Etienne Davignon to the Brussels Criminal Court on Tuesday in order to try him for his involvement in the assassination of the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Patrice Lumumba, on January 17^th, 1961, according to the Belga news agency. “At the age of 93 years, the former Belgian diplomat and politician will have to answer for his involvement in the abduction and transfer of the first head of government of independent Congo. He will be tried for his involvement in three war crimes: the unlawful detention and transfer of a prisoner of war, the deprivation of that prisoner’s right to a impartial trial, and the humiliating and degrading treatment inflicted upon him,” the source has indicated. In front of the press, the Patrice Lumumba’s grandsons have welcomed this decision by the Brussels Council Chamber, before adding that this hearing “is a further step towards obtaining justice and the quest for truth”. “There are still steps to be undertaken, but we are pleased with the decision. This is what we had hoped for. We are nevertheless approaching the decision with great caution. We know that the road ahead is still long. The fight begins today,” they have declared. According to Mr. Christophe Marchand, the Lumumba family’s lawyer, has reported the source, the decision by the Brussels Council Chamber is “historic” and subject to appeal. As for Etienne Davignon’s lawyers, they have not made any comments after leaving the courtroom. Etienne Davignon was absent on Tuesday from the Brussels Courthouse for the Council Chamber’s ruling. He was also absent last June and January, namely the two other closed-door hearings held before the Brussels Council Chamber, the Belgian media outlet has reminded. ACP/