What changed

B100069/2025

B100072/2025

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

(2025/2510(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Ruleits 150(5)previous ofresolutions itson Rulesthe Democratic Republic of Procedure,Congo (DRC)

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the DemocraticUniversal RepublicDeclaration of Congo,Human Rights

having regard to the statement by the HR/VP spokesperson of 9 August 2024 on the condemnation of the death penalty in the DRC,

– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples´s Rights

whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian-Congolese security expert, was arrested and charged in May 2024, following a failed coup d’état in the DRC;

– having regard to article 9 of the Samoa Agreement

whereas Wondo was working in Kinshasa at the invitation of the Congolese intelligence services to advise on institutional reforms;

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

whereas he was tried in a military court; whereas he was found guilty of charges including terrorism and conspiracy, and was sentenced to death along with 36 other defendants;

Whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual Belgian and Congolese national with civilian status, was arrested in May 2024 in the wake of the attempted coup and, in September, sentenced to death, together with 36 others, by a military court after being convicted of alleged active involvement in the planning of the coup attempt;

whereas Wondo has insisted he had no connection to the attempted coup; whereas human rights organisations have stressed that no credible evidence has been presented to link him to the event;

Whereas the accusations against Wondo were based on presumptions, dubious testimony and convoluted reasoning, whereas his lawyer complained about the lack of access to Wondo during his process;

whereas the family of Wondo have expressed concern for his health while he is held in detention in a military prison;

Whereas Wondo suffers from diabetes and his health has been deteriorating significantly since his arrest;

whereasWhereas inthe DRC government announced on 13 March 2024 thea DRClifting liftedof itsthe moratorium on the useexecution of capitalthe punishment,death whichpenalty that had been in placeapplied since 2003; whereas subsequently the number of death sentences issued sharply rose;

Expresses grave concern at the sentencing of Jean-Jacques Wondo;

Whereas capital punishment violates the inalienable right to life and is incompatible with human dignity and the DRC’s international commitments;

Calls on the authorities in the DRC to immediately overturn the capital punishment sentences handed down to Wondo and the other 36 defendants;

Whereas the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Guidelines and Principles on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa stipulate that the sole purpose of military courts is to hear offenses of a purely military nature committed by military personnel;

Urges the Congolese Government to ensure the fundamental rights of Wondo and all defendants are upheld, including during the ongoing appeal process; underlines the serious concerns raised at the lack of credible evidence, urges the judiciary to ensure a fair, accessible and independence process;

Deplores the reinstatement of the death penalty in DRC and recalls its firm opposition to the use of the death penalty, at any time and in all circumstances;

Recalls that the use of military courtsneed to tryguarantee civiliansthe isright into violationa offair internationaltrial and regional human rights conventions torespect whichfor the DRCrights isof party;Wondo urgesand the authoritiesother toconvicted ceasepersons, thein useline militarywith courtsthe forinternational civilianlaw cases;obligations;

Reiterates the EU’s strong opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; regrets the lifting of the moratorium in the DRC; urges the President and Government to immediately re-establish an official moratorium on capital punishment and for no executions to take place;

Deplores that a military court ruled over the capital punishment to be inflicted to civilians, including Wondo, contradicting the legal commitments undertaken by DRC;

Expresses concern at the intimidation and arbitrary detention of civil society including activists, experts, journalists and political opponents; calls on the DRC authorities to ensure civil society can operate without harassment, and that perpetrators are held to account;

Urges the DRC authorities to halt any plans to execute those sentenced to death, and introduce systemic reforms to rebuild the judicial system for efficient, accessible, fair, and independent justice;

Calls on the HR/VP and Member States to increase engagement with DRC authorities to urge the withdrawal of the death penalty sentence for Wondo and the other defendants;

Expresses serious concern about Wondo’s deteriorating health while in custody and urges the DRC authorities to ensure his access to medication and medical care, including via medical evacuation, as needed;

Calls on DRC authorities to engage with the UN Human Rights Council to implement the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review, notably to strengthen civil and political rights and address continued impunity for serious abuses;

Calls on the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European External Action Service to step up their efforts to ensure a fair trial and support the necessary systemic reforms to rebuild the judicial system for efficient, accessible, fair, and independent justice;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP,governments and parliaments of the GovernmentMember States, and the President and Parliament of the DRC.