Gold tooth of Patrice Lumumba: False alarm after the vandalism of the mausoleum in the DRC

The gold tooth of Democratic Republic of Congo independence hero Patrice Lumumba is safe and has not been stolen, his daughter has told the BBC.

The news comes as a relief to a nation gripped by fear that the only remains of the country's revered first prime minister were stolen after his mausoleum in the capital, Kinshasa, was vandalized on the night of Monday November 18 to Tuesday November 19, 2024 .

But Juliana Lumumba said previous concerns about the safety of the site prompted the family to move the tooth to a safer location.

The tooth was only returned to the Lumumba family by former colonial power Belgium two years ago and had been placed in the special memorial building.

Lumumba was highly regarded, not only in his country, but throughout Africa, for his outspoken criticism of colonialism, and he became an icon of Pan-Africanism.

He was seen as a symbol of change and hope after the harrowing years under Belgian rule, during which millions of Congolese died or were tortured.

But a few months after the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960, he was ousted as prime minister.

When he was only 35 years old, he was shot by firing squad in January 196, with the tacit support of Belgium.

Her body was later dissolved in acid, but Belgian police officer Gérard Soete, who oversaw the heinous destruction of her remains, took the tooth away as a souvenir.

The return of Lumumba's gold tooth in June 2022 was the subject of celebration in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the tooth was taken on a tour of the vast country so people could pay their respects.

The vandalism of the mausoleum sparked outrage and when culture minister Yolande Elebe Mandembo announced Tuesday that an investigation had been opened, many feared the worst.

Images circulated showing a glass door had been broken to gain access to the bedroom where a coffin could be seen.

On Wednesday, Juliana Lumumba tried to reassure people by saying that her father's tooth was not there at the time of the break-in.

However, she told the BBC that she felt “anger and sadness” that her father's grave had been disrespected.

Now 69, Juliana spent years lobbying Belgium for the tooth's return.

“Patrice Lumumba sacrificed himself for the sovereignty and independence of his country and the Congolese,” she declared.

“This does not at all represent our culture, which respects the graves of our loved ones. »

According to local authorities, four suspects were arrested for this desecration, but their identities have not been made public.

Juliana Lumumba says the Lumumba Foundation wants to take over management of the mausoleum due to security concerns and is putting pressure on the government to do so.