{"id":1446,"date":"2026-05-18T16:39:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:39:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:39:36","slug":"belgian-ex-diplomat-dies-before-standing-trial-over-1961-murder-of-congolese-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=1446","title":{"rendered":"Belgian ex-diplomat dies before standing trial over 1961 murder of Congolese leader"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"62655cf2-eb51-464b-bdfd-f61f610099b2\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Patrice Lumumba pictured with his hands tied behind his back in 1960, surrounded by men in uniforms.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/045d30deff00c21513763ee24bcf6a34c7430e67\/433_85_1527_1221\/master\/1527.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.8172888015717\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Patrice Lumumba, who became the first prime minister of the DRC upon its independence from Belgium, pictured with his hands tied behind his back in 1960.<\/span> Photograph: AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"62655cf2-eb51-464b-bdfd-f61f610099b2\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Patrice Lumumba, who became the first prime minister of the DRC upon its independence from Belgium, pictured with his hands tied behind his back in 1960.<\/span> Photograph: AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Belgian ex-diplomat dies before standing trial over 1961 murder of Congolese leader<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>\u00c9tienne Davignon, 93, was last living person targeted in investigation into assassination of DRC\u2019s first PM, Patrice Lumumba<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A 93-year-old Belgian former diplomat who became the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/mar\/17\/ex-belgian-diplomat-93-trial-1961-murder-patrice-lumumba\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> first person to be charged<\/a> in the murder of the Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba has died before he could stand trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The death of \u00c9tienne Davignon, an aristocrat who served as a European commissioner during a decades-long career as one of Belgium\u2019s leading diplomats and industrialists, was confirmed by the Jacques Delors Institute thinktank, where he had served on the board.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In March, Davignon was ordered to stand trial for war crimes for alleged involvement in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jul\/29\/lumumba-everlasting-belgium-marks-congos-slain-leaders-100th-birthday-with-exhibition-and-possible-trial\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">extra-judicial killing of Lumumba <\/a>65 years ago, a final attempt to shed light on one of the 20th century\u2019s most consequential political assassinations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"bc8dc6e3-ef8a-4aef-97b2-67293098cae6\" data-spacefinder-role=\"supporting\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-a2pvoh\">\n<div id=\"img-2\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u00c9tienne Davignon.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42d886c3fd803ef14bf398d6e051e505b968a550\/2485_473_2384_1863\/master\/2384.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"347.74958053691273\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-2\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"bc8dc6e3-ef8a-4aef-97b2-67293098cae6\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1sv232j\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-9ktzqp\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">\u00c9tienne Davignon was ordered to stand trial for war crimes for alleged involvement in the assassination of Lumumba 65 years ago.<\/span> Photograph: Eric Vidal\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Lumumba, who was elected the first prime minister of the country now called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/congo\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a> upon its independence from Belgium in 1960, was ousted from power months later and killed by Belgian-backed secessionist rebels on 16 January 1961.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The murder was a dark chapter in Belgium\u2019s colonial history and a watershed for the era\u2019s liberation struggles in African countries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Prosecutors said Davignon, a junior diplomat at the time, had participated in the unlawful detention or transfer of Lumumba and deprived him of his right to an impartial trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Davignon was also accused of involvement in the murder of two of Lumumba\u2019s political allies, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito. He had denied any wrongdoing and at the time of his death was awaiting the outcome of an appeal against the Belgian court\u2019s decision to order him to stand trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The court\u2019s decision had been welcomed by the Lumumba family, who said: \u201cFor our family, this is not the end of a long fight, it is the beginning of a reckoning that history has long demanded.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure id=\"91788dd9-c210-4cdd-a17b-ac9bb364c150\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-10 | 10\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/mar\/25\/the-long-wave-patrice-lumumba-assassination-congo-trial\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">\u2018It\u2019s going to give us closure\u2019: could there finally be justice for the murder of Patrice Lumumba?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Davignon was the last person still alive to be targeted by the Belgian investigation. The court ruled that cases against other suspects would not remain open because of their deaths.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After his Congo assignment, Davignon rose to become a leading figure in the Belgian establishment, serving as the cabinet chief to the prime minister Paul-Henri Spaak in the late 1960s and as European commissioner from 1977-85. He held a number of board positions for Belgian and foreign companies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Born a viscount, he was elevated to the rank of count by King Philippe in 2018.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/patrice-lumumba\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Patrice Lumumba<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/belgium\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Belgium<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/congo\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/africa\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Africa<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/europe-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Europe<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/colonialism\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Colonialism<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Belgian%20ex-diplomat%20dies%20before%20standing%20trial%20over%201961%20murder%20of%20Congolese%20leader&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/18\/belgium-diplomat-dies-etienne-davignon-congo-leader-patrice-lumumba?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2026%2Fmay%2F18%2Fbelgium-diplomat-dies-etienne-davignon-congo-leader-patrice-lumumba&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=world\/2026\/may\/18\/belgium-diplomat-dies-etienne-davignon-congo-leader-patrice-lumumba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patrice Lumumba, who became the first prime minister of the DRC upon its independence from Belgium, pictured with his hands tied behind his back in 1960. Photograph: AP View image &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=1446\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}