In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mausoleum of Patrice Emery Lumumba, hero of independence, was vandalized on the night of Sunday November 17 to Monday November 18. An investigation is underway to find those responsible for this act of vandalism and their motivation. This mausoleum is supposed to house the tooth of Patrice Emery Lumumba, the last and only relic of the independence martyr, returned by Belgian justice to the family two years ago after years of investigation.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula
After this act of vandalism which occurred during the night from Sunday to Monday, the mausoleum of Patrice Emery Lumumba in Kinshasa was placed under seal. The forensic police carried out fingerprints.
The windows of the mausoleum were broken and the coffin, usually on display, was knocked to the ground. In a press release, the Ministry of Culture condemns “ an odious act aimed at desecrating » figure by Lumumba. But the authorities do not specify whether the tooth housed there was stolen.
Failing management of the mausoleum
A close source of the Lumumba family claims that the tooth had not been in the mausoleum for several months, due to lack of security and maintenance. This same source explains that the faulty management of the site does not allow the relic to be exhibited.
There relic had been returned by Belgium in 2022 and brought back to the DRC during a ceremony conducted with great fanfare in the presence of the president Felix Tshisekedi. A three-day national mourning was declared.
Opening an investigation
The investigation is ongoing, and the site, located on Place de l’Échangeur in Limete, has been closed to the public. Only members of the Lumumba family were able to go there. Two of the sons of the hero of independence said to each other “ shocked » and hope that a serious investigation will be carried out to find those responsible for this act of vandalism.
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