Belgian Court Orders Trial for Ex-Diplomat in Lumumba Assassination

A Belgian court has ordered a 93-year-old former diplomat, Etienne Davignon, to stand trial for the 1961 assassination of Congo's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. The charges follow a case filed by Lumumba's children seeking justice. Davignon, who denied wrongdoing, has two weeks to appeal.

In an unprecedented legal move concerning Belgium's colonial history, a Belgian court ordered the trial of former diplomat Etienne Davignon for the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba, Congo's independence leader.

Formerly a vice president of the European Commission, Davignon faces charges of participating in war crimes related to Lumumba's unlawful detention and transfer. A case dating back to 2011, filed by Lumumba's children, has now paved the way for potential justice in a case that's long been overshadowed by political controversy.

Although Lumumba's death was carried out by Congolese separatists, there have been lingering suspicions about possible complicity from Belgium and the United States, given Lumumba's supposed Communist sympathies. The court's decision reignites discussions of historical accountability and justice delayed.

(With inputs from agencies.)