Bangladesh, March 18 -- More than six decades after one of Africas most controversial political killings, a Belgian court has taken a historic step toward accountability. A former senior diplomat, Etienne Davignon, has been ordered to stand trial over his alleged involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The case represents a significant moment not only for Belgiums legal system but also for the broader global effort to confront the enduring legacy of colonialism.

The decision, delivered by the Council Chamber of the Brussels Court of First Instance on March 17, marks the first time a Belgian official has been formally brought to trial ove...