Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
27 January 2026 | 12:15 CAT
3-minute read

Sincere or hollow? Belgium confronts its role in Lumumba’s assassination

On January 20, 2026, a court in Brussels, Belgium, held a procedural hearing regarding the prosecution of Etienne Davignon, a 93-year-old former diplomat and the sole surviving suspect linked to Patrice Lumumba’s detention and mistreatment. A final decision on whether a criminal trial will proceed is expected on March 17, 2026.

During this week’s Africa Report, sessional lecturer and PhD candidate Humaira Mayet discussed the urgent questions about accountability, colonial responsibility and delayed justice that the case raises.

Belgium’s history is deeply intertwined with that of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and provides context for the current case. Between 1885 and 1908. King Leopold II of Belgium maintained the Congo Free State as his private property, exploiting its resources – primarily rubber and ivory – through a regime of extreme violence and forced labour.

Villagers faced brutal forced labour to meet impossible rubber quotas. To control ammunition use, Leopold’s soldiers were required to provide a severed human hand for every bullet fired—leading to widespread mutilations of living people, including women and children, as “proof” when rubber targets were missed or bullets were used for other purposes.

Historians estimate that between 10 to 15 million Congolese people died during Leopold’s rule due to murder, starvation, and exhaustion.

Given this context, Belgium’s attempt to confront its past involvement in the murder of Patrice Lumumba is seen by some as a sincere effort at taking responsibility and by others as merely a facade.

“The perpetrator who is standing before the court in Belgium is a 93-year-old man and sometimes it’s too little, too late, but perhaps this could actually pave the way for some sort of significant reparations around the world,” Mayet, whose research focuses on contemporary colonialism, the global south and the aftermath of imperialism, observed.

Sahel: The global epicentre of violence

As of early 2026, the Sahel region in West Africa remains the global epicentre of violence, accounting for 51% of global violence-related deaths. The security situation is characterised by a “coup epidemic,” fragile states, and a massive spillover of violence into coastal West African states.

Mayet explained that the central Sahelian states—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—are at the heart of the insurgency. Since 2024, these countries have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a mutual defence pact that has distanced itself from traditional regional blocs like ECOWAS.

“The Alliance of Sahel States…were previously led by very weak leaders, with little to no control over the regions, but now come 2025, 2026 are under the control of very strong leaders…yet still we see rampant terrorism in the area,” Mayet said, noting that insurgent groups receive funds from the US and the EU.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is in the process of establishing a new counterterrorism force, though it is not yet fully operational. The plan involves activating a 5 000-strong standby force, with an initial brigade of 1 650 personnel expected to begin operations in 2026.

Sudan: the world’s worst humanitarian disaster

Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. January 9, 2026 marked 1 000 days since full-scale civil war broke out in Sudan on April 15, 2023. After nearly 3 years of continuous violence, Sudan’s people are paying the price, with an estimated 33,7 million people in need of urgent aid.

According to reports, it is the world’s largest displacement crisis, with roughly 14 million people uprooted. Additionally, 25 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity, with famine confirmed in multiple locations, including the Zamzam displacement camp and cities like El Fasher and Kadugli.

More than 70% to 80% of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-functional, which has fuelled massive outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue fever, and measles.

The conflict is primarily a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Listen to the Africa Report with Humaira Mayet on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.