The Congolese ambassador in Brussels was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Monday following the death sentence handed down to Belgian-Congolese military expert Jean-Jacques Wondo last Friday in Kinshasa.
This was confirmed by the ministry after an earlier report by La Libre Belgique newspaper.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib had already called her Congolese counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, on Sunday to express her “deep concern” over the verdict. Ms. Lahbib emphasised Belgium’s strong opposition to the death penalty and stressed that the right to defence must be respected.
On Friday evening, the Foreign Ministry expressed surprise at the ruling, citing the limited evidence presented during the trial. The ministry pointed out that Belgium has repeatedly condemned the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty in Congo, both publicly and bilaterally.
Wondo’s lawyers suspect he may be a victim of an internal vendetta within the Congolese intelligence services. He had been asked by regime insiders to assist with intelligence service reforms, and his entourage believes he made enemies in Kinshasa through his plans.
According to the defence, the case file contains no concrete evidence linking Wondo to a botched coup attempt in May. The only item of note is a 2016 photograph showing Wondo next to Christian Malanga, the alleged leader of the failed coup. His lawyers insist there is no further connection between Wondo and the other defendants.
Despite the lack of evidence, Wondo and 36 others were sentenced to death for their roles the aborted coup attempt. All were found guilty of conspiracy to commit an attack and terrorism.
Among the 37 sentenced, six hold foreign nationalities: three US-born Americans, a Briton, a Canadian, and Wondo. The last three were all born in Congo.
