What changed

B100072/2025

B100084/2025

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

The European Parliament,

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

– having regard to theRule Universal150 Declaration(5) of Humanits RightsRules of Procedure

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

whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian military expert of Congolese origin, moved to Kinshasa in February 2024 at the request of President Tshisekedi, who offered him a position with the Congolese intelligence agency ANR, to assist the intelligence services with reforms; whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo was arrested in the wake of the coup attempt that took place on 19 May 2024 in Kinshasa, being accused of being the mastermind of the coup attempt;

– having regard to article 9 of the Samoa Agreement

whereas on 13 September 2024 Jean-Jacques Wondo was sentenced to death in Kinshasa despite a huge lack of evidence against him; whereas Wongo’s health situation has deteriorated considerably during his stay in prison;

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

whereas in the wake of the failed coup 37 people in total, among which are 6 foreigners, were sentenced to death by the military court in Kinshasa; whereas the Belgian Foreign Minister has expressed “deep concern” over the verdict emphasising Belgium’s strong opposition to the death penalty and stressing that the right to defence must be respected; whereas the European Union has repeatedly condemned the lifting of moratorium on the death penalty in DRC;

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 the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights plans to undertake a mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 2025;

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;

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

Strongly condemns the unjust imprisonment and death sentence of Jean-Jacques Wondo and the limited evidence presented during the trial, and suspects that he may be a victim of an internal vendetta within the Congolese intelligence services;

Whereas the DRC government announced on 13 March 2024 a lifting of the moratorium on the execution of the death penalty that had been applied since 2003;

Demands the DRC authorities to release Jean-Jacques Wondo immediately and unconditionally, as well as all others detained who have been imprisoned and sentenced without factual evidence;

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

Denounces the degradation of the rule of law, human rights and basic democratic principles in DRC and urges President Tshisekedi to intervene;

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;

Calls on the EU delegation in Kinshasa to closely monitor the unprecedented human rights abuses in DCR, to closely follow the case against Jean-Jacques Wondo and to visit him in prison;

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;

Urges the Council to adopt sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against the Congolese court and officials in charge of the trial of Jean-Jacques Wondo;

Recalls the need to guarantee the right to a fair trial and respect for the rights of Wondo and the other convicted persons, in line with the international law obligations;

Recalls the firm and unequivocal opposition of the European Union to the use of the death penalty at any time and in any circumstances;

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

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and President of DRC.

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;

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 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 governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President and Parliament of DRC.