What changed

B100078/2025

B100070/2025

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

(2025/2510(RSP))

The European Parliament,

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

whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian-Congolese political, security and military expert, arrived in Kinshasa in February 2024 at the request of Colonel Lusadisu in order to reform and humanise the Congolese National Intelligence Agency (ANR), known for longstanding abuses;

A. whereas on 13 September 2024 Jean-Jacques Wondo, Belgian-Congolese military expert, was sentenced to death by a military court in Kinshasa for his role in the coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May 2024; whereas the main item of the evidence was a 2016 photo of Wondo with the coup leader Christian Malanga; whereas the judges imposed the death penalty on 37 defendants;

whereas following a failed coup d’état on 19th May 2024, Wondo was arrested and accused of being the “intellectual perpetrator” of the attempt, despite consistently maintaining his innocence; whereas on September 13, 2024, Wondo was sentenced to death by a military court in a process during which human rights organizations have raised serious concerns about the trial, highlighting issues of fairness, lack of credible evidence, and violations of due process;

B. whereas in March 2024, the DRC government decided to reinstate the death penalty by lifting its 21-year moratorium on executions;

whereas the evidence against Wondo was weak, relying on the testimony of a hotel receptionist linking him to Christian Malanga, the alleged coup leader who was killed during the attempted coup;

C. whereas the EU allocated 424 million Euro grants to the partnership with the DRC for the period 2021-2024; whereas the EU’s support is also focused on security, police and justice; whereas a 2013 European Court of Auditors’ report considered that the effectiveness of the EU’s 1.9 billion Euro aid to the DRC in the period 2003-2011 had been sorely limited, with less than half of the programmes likely to deliver the intended results; whereas the report criticised the DRC’s inadequate commitment to justice reform;

whereas the receptionist was never present in court to testify and the prosecution claimed he had disappeared; whereas recent developments revealed that he had been secretly abducted, imprisoned, and tortured by public prosecutors to coerce false testimony against Wondo;

1. Considers that the evidence against Wondo is weak and is concerned about his deteriorating health condition; notes that there are new elements in the case, proving his innocence, and calls on the Court of Appeal to take these fully into account;

whereas during Wondo’s current appeal at the military tribunal, the receptionist publicly disclosed these abuses, casting serious doubt on the integrity of the prosecution and suggesting that Wondo was the victim of a retaliation within the Congolese intelligence services;

2. Is worried that the removal of the moratorium on executions together with the inefficient and ineffective justice system, increases the risks of extrajudicial and arbitrary executions by law enforcement officials and security personnel,

whereas Wondo’s case underscores concerns about judicial fairness and human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with fears that political machinations are obstructing justice;

3. Notes that for many years EU policies in the DRC have strongly prioritised the reform of the security forces and the justice sector, aiming at reducing state predation against the population; considers that EU policies have in fact continued to support the extractive character of the DRC’s neo-patrimonial system; finds it unacceptable that the EU has continued to finance a justice system that is still driven by corruption, predation and coercion and constitutes a threat to the physical security of citizens of the DRC, Member States of the EU and other countries; calls, therefore, on the EU to withdraw or reorient its engagement in the DRC;

whereas the DRC lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, leading to a sharp increase in death sentences;

4. 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 European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the President, government and parliament of the DRC.

whereas Wondo’s health is further deteriorating and he urgently needs medical attention.

Strongly condemns the sentencing to death of Jean-Jacques Wondo and 36 other detainees;

Recalls that the European Union categorically opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and is committed to its universal abolition;

Urges the DRC Government to introduce an immediate reinstatement of the moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a step towards abolishing and to commute all death sentences;

Expresses grave concern at the lack of credible evidence and apparent violations of Wondo's fundamental right to a fair and impartial trial; Insists for the immediate release of Mr Wondo unless reliable evidence of his alleged guilt is provided;

Expresses serious concern regarding his health; Urges the DRC authorities to provide him with immediate medical attention;

Urges the DRC authorities to ensure respect for the human rights of detainees in accordance with their obligations under international law, and to refrain from ill-treatment and torture;

Calls on the European institutions to actively engage with the DRC authorities, emphasizing the need to respect human rights, uphold the rule of law, and ensure independence of the prosecution and judiciary;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, and the DRC authorities.