Six individuals have been arrested in connection with a break-in and vandalism at the mausoleum of Patrice Lumumba, the assassinated leader of Congo’s independence, in Kinshasa earlier this week. The incident, which occurred on Monday, involved the breakage of a case containing the only remaining part of Lumumba’s body—a gold-capped tooth—though it is unclear what happened to the tooth itself.
Authorities confirmed the arrests on Wednesday and are continuing to search for two additional suspects. Jacquemin Shabani, Congo’s interior minister, reassured the public that the tooth had not been harmed during the break-in, emphasizing that the relic is safe and secure.
The return of Lumumba’s tooth from Belgium in 2022 had been a significant event for Congo, with the tooth being paraded around the country to allow citizens to pay their respects. Jean-Jacques Lumumba, one of Patrice Lumumba’s grandsons, expressed satisfaction with the arrests but lamented the neglect of the mausoleum by government authorities. He assured that the tooth is now housed in a secure location, though its exact whereabouts remain undisclosed.
Patrice Lumumba, hailed as a key figure in Congo’s fight for independence, served as the country’s first prime minister before being assassinated in 1961. His body was gruesomely disposed of in an effort to prevent his grave from becoming a symbol of resistance. His death marked the beginning of decades of political turmoil and dictatorship in the country.
The assassination of Lumumba, orchestrated by separatists, is thought to have been facilitated by Belgian and U.S. involvement, due to his perceived Communist sympathies. The tooth, which had been kept by the Belgian police officer responsible for his body’s destruction, was eventually seized by Belgian authorities in 2016. It was returned to Congo following King Philippe’s 2022 visit, during which he expressed regret for Belgium’s colonial abuses in the country.