Belgian ex-diplomat dies before standing trial over 1961 murder of Congolese leader
Étienne Davignon, 93, was last living person targeted in investigation into assassination of DRC’s first PM, Patrice Lumumba
TL;DR
- Étienne Davignon, a 93-year-old Belgian former diplomat, died before facing trial for alleged involvement in the murder of Patrice Lumumba.
- Davignon was accused of war crimes related to the extra-judicial killing of Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Prosecutors alleged Davignon participated in Lumumba's unlawful detention or transfer and deprived him of an impartial trial.
- He was also accused of involvement in the murder of Lumumba's political allies, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito.
- Davignon denied all wrongdoing and was the last living person targeted in the Belgian investigation into Lumumba's assassination.
- Lumumba was ousted from power and killed by Belgian-backed secessionist rebels in 1961, a significant event in Belgium's colonial history and Africa's liberation struggles.