215. De moord op Patrice Lumumba, deel 2: een bekentenis live op televisie en de rol van een Belgische minister van Staat
Summary
This episode of *De Stemmen van Assisen* examines Belgium’s role in the 1961 execution of Patrice Lumumba, focusing on the late diplomat Etienne Davignon. Hosts Mark Clefman and Pieter Huijbrechts, joined by Christophe Bogey, discuss how the Federal Prosecutor sought to indict Davignon and nine others for war crimes. Although Davignon’s death halted the criminal trial, Lumumba’s family continues seeking historical truth and state recognition through civil proceedings.
Topics discussed
Introduction and episode overview: The execution of Patrice Lumumba
Recap: Lumumba's speech, independence, and arrest
The execution and desecration of Lumumba's body
Gerard Soete's televised confession and lack of prosecution
Profile of Etienne Davignon: Career and connections
Davignon's role in Congo and the controversial telexes
Davignon's denials and the transfer to Katanga
Interview with Christophe Bouget on the Lumumba family's quest for truth
Legal developments: Federal prosecutor's request for trial
Davignon's death, case dismissal, and civil lawsuit against the state
Listen ad-free on Castria