On the case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in Democratic Republic of Congo

B100069/2025

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

(2025/2510(RSP))

The European Parliament,

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

having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of Congo,

having regard to the statement by the HR/VP spokesperson of 9 August 2024 on the condemnation of the death penalty in the DRC,

whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian-Congolese security expert, was arrested and charged in May 2024, following a failed coup d’état in the DRC;

whereas Wondo was working in Kinshasa at the invitation of the Congolese intelligence services to advise on institutional reforms;

whereas he was tried in a military court; whereas he was found guilty of charges including terrorism and conspiracy, and was sentenced to death along with 36 other defendants;

whereas Wondo has insisted he had no connection to the attempted coup; whereas human rights organisations have stressed that no credible evidence has been presented to link him to the event;

whereas the family of Wondo have expressed concern for his health while he is held in detention in a military prison;

whereas in March 2024 the DRC lifted its moratorium on the use of capital punishment, which had been in place since 2003; whereas subsequently the number of death sentences issued sharply rose;

Expresses grave concern at the sentencing of Jean-Jacques Wondo;

Calls on the authorities in the DRC to immediately overturn the capital punishment sentences handed down to Wondo and the other 36 defendants;

Urges the Congolese Government to ensure the fundamental rights of Wondo and all defendants are upheld, including during the ongoing appeal process; underlines the serious concerns raised at the lack of credible evidence, urges the judiciary to ensure a fair, accessible and independence process;

Recalls that the use of military courts to try civilians is in violation of international and regional human rights conventions to which the DRC is party; urges the authorities to cease the use military courts for civilian cases;

Reiterates the EU’s strong opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; regrets the lifting of the moratorium in the DRC; urges the President and Government to immediately re-establish an official moratorium on capital punishment and for no executions to take place;

Expresses concern at the intimidation and arbitrary detention of civil society including activists, experts, journalists and political opponents; calls on the DRC authorities to ensure civil society can operate without harassment, and that perpetrators are held to account;

Calls on the HR/VP and Member States to increase engagement with DRC authorities to urge the withdrawal of the death penalty sentence for Wondo and the other defendants;

Calls on DRC authorities to engage with the UN Human Rights Council to implement the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review, notably to strengthen civil and political rights and address continued impunity for serious abuses;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, and the Government and Parliament of the DRC.