Belgium’s Court of Appeals has ordered the government to compensate five Congolese women who were forcibly separated from their mothers during the country’s colonial rule over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The court ruled that these abductions, which occurred more than 70 years ago, constitute crimes against humanity.
The case stems from a brutal policy enacted by the Belgian colonial administration, which systematically targeted mixed-race children, taking them from their families and placing them in orphanages, often run by the Catholic Church. These children were commonly referred to as ‘children of sin’ and subjected to racist and degrading treatment.
Historic ruling: colonial crimes against humanity
The court rejected the argument that too much time had passed for the case to proceed, ruling that such crimes are not subject to statutes of limitations. The ruling recognised the moral damage caused to the women, who had their connections to their mothers, their identities, and their cultural roots torn away.
‘The court orders the Belgian state to compensate the appellants for the moral damage resulting from the loss of their connection to their mother and the damage to their identity and their connection to their original environment,’ the judgement stated.
The five plaintiffs – Simone Ngalula, Monique Bitu Bingi, Lea Tavares Mujinga, Noelle Verbeeken, and Marie-José Loshi – each sought €50,000 in compensation. They shared painful memories of their treatment, including being called derogatory names such as ‘café au lait’ at school.
A victory for justice and history
The ruling was hailed as historic by the women’s lawyer, Michele Hirsch, who described it as a ‘total victory.’ Hirsch noted that this is the first time a country has been convicted on such legal grounds for acts committed during colonisation.
Belgium has faced increasing scrutiny for its colonial legacy, particularly its rule over the Congo, which was infamous for its brutal exploitation under King Leopold II. Between 1885 and 1908, millions of Congolese people were killed or subjected to extreme violence, a period often considered one of the darkest chapters in colonial history. Belgium continued to rule the territory until Congo’s independence in 1960.
A long-overdue acknowledgement
The case also highlights the plight of mixed-race children born during Belgium’s colonial rule in the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. These children, estimated to number between 14,000 and 20,000, often faced rejection by both white and black communities and were denied recognition by their fathers.
With this ruling, Belgium has been forced to confront the lingering effects of its colonial abuses and the enduring trauma suffered by the victims.
Credit: Reuters
