What changed

B100081/2025

B100078/2025

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 its previous resolutionsRule on150 theof Democraticits RepublicRules of the Congo (DRC),Procedure,

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by the DRC in November 1976,

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;

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

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;

whereas on 13 September 2024, Belgian-Congolese military expert, well-known researcher on political and security issues in Africa’s Great Lakes region, Jean-Jacques Wondo, was sentenced to death by a military court in Kinshasa, DRC, for his alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in May 2024;

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;

whereas, along with several others, Jean-Jaques Wondo was arrested in the days after

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;

the failed coup andwhereas hisduring lawyerWondo’s suspectcurrent heappeal wasat the victim of a retaliationmilitary withintribunal, the Congolesereceptionist intelligencepublicly servicesdisclosed asthese heabuses, wascasting askedserious fromdoubt withinon the regime to helpintegrity reformof the intelligence services,prosecution and hissuggesting entouragethat suspectsWondo thatwas histhe plansvictim madeof hima manyretaliation enemieswithin inthe Kinshasa;Congolese intelligence services;

whereas the prosecution file condemning Jean-Jacques Wondo was empty, not containing any concrete evidence linking him to a botched coup attempt in May; whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo’s health is further deteriorating and he urgently needs medical attention;

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;

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

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

Expresses grave concern at the lack of credible evidence and apparent violations of Mr 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;

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

Condemns in the strongest terms the use of the death penalty at all times and under all circumstance given that the death penalty does not serve as an effective deterrent to crime and makes any miscarriage of justice irreversible; urges the Congolese authorities to immediately put an end to the policy of repression;

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

Urges the Congolese governmentDRC forGovernment theto immediateintroduce andan unconditionalimmediate respectreinstatement of the right to defence and reiterates it strongmoratorium callon tothe re-establishuse aof moratoriumthe ondeath executionspenalty as a first step towards theabolishing abolitionand ofto thecommute capitalall punishment;death sentences;

Reiterates its extreme concern over the escalation of violence in the eastern DRC and the worsening humanitarian situation that has left an estimated 25.4 million Congolese in need of humanitarian assistance; deplores the loss of life and expresses its sympathy with the people of the DRC;

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;

Reiterates its position on the need for all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians;

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

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the ACP- EU Council of Ministers and Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the UN Secretary- General, the UN Human Rights Council, the President, Prime Minister and Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the African Union and its institutions.

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.