What changed

B100065/2025

European Parliament resolution on the case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

(2025/2510(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on RDC,the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),

– having regard to the 2022,International 2024Covenant andon 2025Civil Reportsand ofPolitical theRights, UNratified Groupby ofthe ExpertsDRC onin the1976, DRC,and asthe wellAfrican asCharter 2024on UNHuman Securityand CouncilPeoples’ report,Rights,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa,

whereas on 13 September 2024, the Belgian-Congolese researcher and military expert Jean-Jacques Wondo, together with 37 other convicted, was sentenced to death by the Kinshasa military court for ‘attempted coup d'état’ following a trial at first instance marked by serious irregularities; whereas his appeal is currently in progress;

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas the moratorium on death penalty was lifted due to the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);

A. whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian-Congolese security, military and political expert, was invited to Kinshasa in February 2024 to lead reforms of the Congolese National Intelligence Agency, the ANR;

whereas meanwhile, the M23, a Rwanda and Ouganda-backed armed group, as proven by the UN, is continuing its territorial expansion despite the ceasefire, with the rebels stepping up the recruitment of fighters and cadres to administer the conquered territories, according to January 2025 report by UN experts ;

B. whereas Wondo was arrested following a failed coup on 19 May 2024, for which he was accused of being the ‘intellectual perpetrator’, despite consistently maintaining his innocence; whereas the charges were based on coerced and unreliable testimony;

whereas UN experts now state that around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, members of the RDF, are fighting alongside the M23 against the Congolese national army;

C. whereas on 13 September 2024, Wondo and 36 others were sentenced to death by a military court in a process widely condemned for serious violations of due process and the absence of credible evidence;

Expresses its deepest concern about the irregularities surrounding the trial of Jean-Jacques Wondo ;

D. whereas Wondo’s health has gravely deteriorated in custody and requires medical attention;

Underlines that civilians should be tried by a civilian court, in accordance with international law, and not by a military court;

E. whereas the DRC lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, leading to a sharp rise in death sentences, which contradicts its commitments under international human rights law;

Reaffirms its strong and unequivocal opposition to the use of the death penalty at all times and under all circumstances; calls on the authorities to immediately re-establish the moratorium;

1. Strongly condemns the sentencing to death of Wondo and others and the grave violations of their right to a fair trial;

Calls on the DRC authorities to uphold their commitments under international human rights law, including the right to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in the Constitution of the DRC;

2. Urges the DRC Government to immediately overturn the death sentences, reinstate a moratorium on executions and take steps towards the full abolition of the death penalty;

Is deeply concerned by the continuous expansion of the M23 rebels in the East ; Denounces the flagrant violations of the ceasefire by the Rwanda and Ouganda-backed M23, in particular after the capture of Masisi;

3. Expresses deep concern about Wondo’s deteriorating health, calls for him to be given immediate access to medical treatment and insists on his immediate release;

Stresses that the rapes and forced recruitments, including of minors, committed by the M23 constitute war crimes and may amount to crimes against humanity;

4. Denounces the misuse of military courts to prosecute Wondo and calls on the DRC to align its judicial practices with international and regional human rights commitments;

Condemns the direct implication of Rwandan army ; calls for Rwanda to immediately remove Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) troops from Congolese territory; calls on the EU and its Member States to suspend their cooperation with the Rwandan army, as well as all funding for it until then;

5. Reiterates its categorical opposition to the death penalty under any circumstances and calls for its universal abolition;

Underlines more broadly the need to end impunity of those responsible for crimes under international law committed in the DRC from the mid-1990s to the present day, and the need for justice on the part of the Congolese people and the mobilisation of civil society on this issue ;

6. Encourages the EU delegation in Kinshasa, the European External Action Service and the foreign affairs ministers of the Member States to intensify their engagement with the DRC authorities, emphasising respect for human rights, judicial independence and the rule of law;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the African Union, and the United Nations Secretary-General.

7. Calls for systemic reforms to be implemented in the DRC to rebuild the judiciary into an independent, fair and efficient institution that guarantees due process and the protection of fundamental rights;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the African Union and other relevant international bodies.