Retired Belgian diplomat Étienne Davignon died before standing trial for his role in the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Davignon, who was 93 years old, passed away on May 18, 2026, bringing an abrupt end to a case that had lingered for over six decades.

The trial was expected to examine Belgian involvement in Lumumba's assassination, a pivotal moment in Congo's post-colonial history. Davignon had been among the senior officials facing charges related to the killing, which occurred shortly after Congo gained independence from Belgium. The case represented one of the rarest efforts to hold European officials accountable for colonial-era violence in Africa.

His death before trial means the legal process will not proceed, leaving unresolved questions about the full extent of Belgian complicity in Lumumba's death. Belgian authorities had approved the prosecution in recent years, marking a significant shift in how the country addresses its colonial legacy.