In brief
A Brussels court has granted reparations to five elderly women, victims of Belgium's colonial past in the Congo, reflecting on a dark chapter of history that demands recognition and justice.
In a notable legal decision, a Brussels court ruled that five women, now aged in their 70s and 80s, are entitled to reparations from the Belgian state in light of the grave injustices they suffered during Belgium's colonial rule in the Congo. Taken from their families as young as two years old, these women were forcibly separated from their African mothers and European fathers, subsequently placed in religious institutions where they endured poverty, malnutrition, and mistreatment. The system of removal started in the late 19th century and continued until Congo achieved independence in 1960.The Brussels Court of Appeal found Belgium guilty of committing acts of inhumanity and persecution as part of a broader crime against humanity, leading to a compensation of 50,000 euros (approximately $52,000) for each of the women. The court recognized the profound anguish experienced by the appellants, who were kidnapped by state authorities before the age of seven. This case sheds light on a painful chapter in Belgium's history from 1908 to 1960 when it governed what is today known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. During this period, strict regulations prohibited intimate relations between Europeans and Africans, leading to the removal of thousands of children from their families to religious facilities in Congo and a few to Belgium.Monique Bitu Bingi, one of the women involved in the case, expressed her relief and triumph, stating that the ruling signifies a victory not only for herself and her co-plaintiffs but also for their mothers who suffered through this dark period. "The Belgian government took my youth away, and it was something I had to fight for, to explain to the world what happened,” said the 75-year-old, emphasizing the importance of recognition and justice for their plight.
