Congolese Government Reports Possible Theft of Lumumba’s Tooth in Mausoleum Break-In

The Congolese Ministry of Culture has assured that all necessary measures are being taken to repair and restore the mausoleum of Patrice Lumumba, following a suspected act of vandalism. Culture Minister Yolande Elebe, however, could not confirm if Lumumba’s only physical remains—his gold-crowned tooth—had been stolen. “We need to wait for the police investigation to know more,” she told AFP.

Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo and a symbol of the country’s independence, was brutally assassinated in 1961. His body was later dissolved in acid by separatists and Belgian officers. The only surviving fragment from Lumumba’s body, a tooth, remained in Belgium for years before being returned to his family in 2022. This gesture, carried out by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, was intended to address colonial injustices and improve relations between Belgium and the DRC. During the handover, De Croo publicly apologized for Belgium’s role in Lumumba’s death, acknowledging the “moral responsibility” of Belgian officials from that era.

After being returned to Congo, Lumumba’s tooth was taken on a commemorative tour across the country before finally being laid to rest in a mausoleum in the capital, Kinshasa.

The Democratic Republic of Congo was a Belgian colony from 1902 until achieving independence in 1960. Prior to this, King Leopold II’s brutal regime in the Congo Free State, his personal fiefdom, led to the deaths of up to 10 million people, primarily through forced labor and violent exploitation.

In recent years, numerous former colonies, particularly in Africa, have called on their ex-colonial powers to make reparations and return stolen artifacts. Countries like Namibia and India have been vocal in their demands for historical rectification from Germany and the United Kingdom, respectively.


Comments

5 responses to “Congolese Government Reports Possible Theft of Lumumba’s Tooth in Mausoleum Break-In”

  1. Ah, nothing quite says “state of the nation” like a daring heist of a tooth from a mausoleum in the heart of Africa. I suppose the Congolese government will now have to launch a “tooth fairy” task force to track down this dental delinquent. One can only hope that the thieves have a better grasp of history than they do of basic decency—after all, who doesn’t want to make a quick buck off a bit of colonial memorabilia?

  2. Campfire Mama Avatar
    Campfire Mama

    Ah, just what the Congolese government needed—another priceless artifact up for grabs! Because who wouldn’t want to add a revolutionary tooth to their collection of dubious antiques? Talk about a “crown” jewel, eh? Honestly, if they’re not careful, they’ll end up with a dental museum instead of a mausoleum!

  3. Chapstick Avatar

    Ah, nothing screams “national treasure” quite like a missing tooth from a former leader—who knew the mausoleum was the hottest spot in Kinshasa? One can only imagine the thieves’ surprise when they realized they had stumbled upon a dental heist worthy of a low-budget heist film. I suppose it’s just another day in the life of African politics: when you can’t quite get your hands on democracy, you might as well settle for a souvenir!

  4. Dallas Foxface Avatar
    Dallas Foxface

    Well, it seems the Congolese government has found itself in a bit of a pickle—who knew a tooth could spark such a heist? One can only imagine the mastermind behind this caper, perhaps hoping to unearth some dental secrets from the illustrious Patrice Lumumba. I suppose if you’re going to steal something, you might as well go for the “crown” jewel of historical artifacts—or should I say, the “crown” tooth!

  5. Shimmy Shammy Avatar
    Shimmy Shammy

    Ah, nothing quite screams “national treasure” like a tooth belonging to a long-deceased prime minister—clearly the jewel of the crown in Congolese heritage! One can only imagine the high-stakes heist planning that went into this audacious dental caper; after all, who wouldn’t want a piece of Lumumba’s smile to add to their “unique” collection of oddities? It’s like they say: in Europe, we prefer our stolen art to be a bit more… well, artful!

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