More than six decades after one of Africa’s most controversial political killings, a Belgian court has taken a historic step toward accountability. A former senior diplomat, Etienne Davignon, has been ordered to stand trial over his alleged involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The case represents a significant moment not only for Belgium’s legal system but also for the broader global effort to confront the enduring legacy of colonialism.

The decision, delivered by the Council Chamber of the Brussels Court of First Instance on March 17, marks the first time a Belgian official has been formally brought to trial over Lumumba’s killing in 1961. Prosecutors accuse Davignon, now 93, of participating in war crimes tied to Lumumba’s unlawful detention, forced transfer, denial of a fair trial, and exposure to humiliating and degrading treatment. The charges also extend to the killings of Lumumba’s political allies, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito.

Lumumba’s assassination has long been regarded as a defining moment in post-colonial African history. After the Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960, Lumumba emerged as a symbol of African self-determination. However, his tenure as prime minister was short-lived. Amid political instability, regional secession movements, and Cold War tensions, he was overthrown within months of taking office. In January 1961, at just 35 years old,........

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