FIVE elderly women, forcibly separated from their mothers in Congo during Belgium’s colonial rule, have escalated their legal fight for justice to a Brussels appeals court. The women—Monique Bitu Bingi, Simone Ngalula, Noëlle Verbeeken, Marie-José Loshi, and Léa Tavares Mujinga—are seeking compensation and the formal recognition of the suffering they endured. The case shines a spotlight on Belgium’s colonial policies, which saw thousands of mixed-race children taken from their African mothers and placed in segregated religious institutions.
The abductions occurred between 1948 and 1961 as part of Belgium’s colonial strategy to maintain racial hierarchies in its African territories, particularly in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Children born to African mothers and white Belgian fathers were forcibly removed, often placed in Catholic Church-run institutions, and isolated from both African and colonial society. The plaintiffs, all mixed-race women, accuse Belgium of crimes against humanity for their abduction and mistreatment under these policies.
Colonial legacy of exploitation and racial segregation
Under Belgian colonial rule, mixed-race children were marginalised, excluded from both African and European communities. The official justification for removing these children was to give them a so-called ‘European’ education to create a caste of people loyal to the colonial regime. However, the real intent, as revealed by the plaintiffs’ lawyers, was to erase their existence—mixed-race children challenged the racial order that upheld Belgium’s supremacy in its colonies. These children were often never acknowledged by their European fathers, leaving them without family connections or legal rights.
Despite the significant number of children involved—between 14,000 and 20,000—their fate was largely ignored until recently. In 2019, Belgium made its first public apology for the abductions. Prime Minister Charles Michel formally recognised the atrocities in a speech before Parliament, and King Philippe expressed ‘deep regrets’ for colonial abuses during a visit to the DRC in 2022. However, neither apology included an offer of reparations, and the women now pressing their case say those statements are insufficient.
A long-awaited day in court
The five women, now in their 70s, are seeking justice for what they describe as a state-sanctioned violation of their human rights. In 2021, the court ruled against them, stating that ‘no one can be punished for a crime that did not exist at the time.’ This legal precedent stems from the Nuremberg Trials, which defined crimes against humanity post-World War II, but Belgium claims such laws did not apply during the time of its colonial rule.
The plaintiffs have appealed this decision, arguing that the same legal principles applied in the Nuremberg Trials should be invoked in this case. Their legal team contends that the systemic abduction of mixed-race children was a crime against humanity—even by the standards of the time—and demands a full investigation and compensation. The women’s lawyers argue that these policies were aimed at erasing their identity and silencing their very existence.
‘They were abducted, mistreated, ignored, expelled from the world. They are living proof of an unacknowledged state crime,’ the plaintiffs’ lawyers said.
A pattern of colonial apologies, but no reparations
Belgium has slowly begun confronting its colonial past. Beyond the 2019 apology, King Philippe made headlines in 2022 by acknowledging the ‘suffering’ inflicted during Belgium’s 80-year rule over Congo, though he stopped short of a formal apology or reparations. The king’s statements, which came during his first visit to the DRC since taking the throne, were seen as a milestone, but many Congolese and activists are calling for more concrete action, including financial compensation.
‘We were expecting reparations,’ said opposition MP Geneviève Inagosi, echoing a common sentiment among Congolese leaders and civil rights advocates. ‘Congo’s wealth built Belgium, and logically, we expect Belgium to use its power to rebuild the DRC. Just expressing regrets is not enough.’
Activists have also argued that Belgium’s colonial exploitation directly contributed to the long-standing economic disparity between the two countries, and they want to see a greater effort to address this legacy. Many Congolese feel that formal recognition and reparations are necessary steps to heal the wounds left by Belgium’s brutal colonial administration, which is known for violent extraction of resources, forced labour, and racial discrimination.
Looking forward: a chance for justice
The ongoing case represents a pivotal moment in Belgium’s reckoning with its colonial past. While apologies have been issued, many survivors of Belgium’s colonial policies believe reparations and legal accountability are long overdue. The mixed-race women leading this case hope to set a precedent for others who suffered similar injustices.
As the trial proceeds, Belgium faces growing pressure to acknowledge the full extent of its colonial crimes, not just with words but with concrete actions. The court’s decision will not only impact these five women but could open the door for others to seek justice for the systemic violence and exploitation that defined Belgium’s rule in Africa.
