Things are becoming clearer about the repatriation of the remains of Patrice Lumumba. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, will officially receive the remains on 21 June 2021 in Belgium.
Patrice Lumumba (1960)
Patrice Lumumba (1960)
Instructions have been given to the government to take all necessary steps to speed up preparations for this event.
For more information: Patrice Emery Lumumba: a political battle to ponder
As a reminder, it was in September 2020 that the Belgian justice finally granted the request of the Lumumba family to return the remains of the assassinated hero, a tooth that had been removed and kept by a Belgian officer who took part in the assassination. And last December, President Felix Tshisekedi decided to organise a national tribute to Patrice Lumumba on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the country’s independence on 30 June 2021. « I announce that in June 2021, on the sidelines of the 61st anniversary of our independence, the country will show its gratitude to Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, » said the first Congolese citizen. It is in this perspective that the return of the relics of the national hero to the land of his ancestors has been decided, so that a « burial worthy of his sacrifice for the country » is finally given to him.
Opposition to the repatriation of the remains of one of the sons of the illustrious departed, Guy Patrice Lumumba, which puts him at odds with his brothers, will not change the programme. « Those who represent the Lumumba family are François Lumumba, Juliana Lumumba and myself. For more than ten years we have done everything necessary to achieve this result, the return of the remains of our father to the family by the Belgian government. If people have the will to take a stand and make themselves known, that’s another debate, » Roland Lumumba said of his brother’s position.
Things are becoming clearer about the repatriation of the remains of Patrice Lumumba. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, will officially receive the remains on 21 June 2021 in Belgium.
Patrice Lumumba (1960)
Patrice Lumumba (1960)
The DRC is on the home stretch towards the return of the relics of its first head of government, Patrice Lumumba: a tooth that has been kept in Belgium since the politician’s assassination in January 1961. The Council of Ministers on Friday delivered the main lines of the programme for this return, which has been discussed for several months. The different parties involved, i.e. the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Lumumba family and the Kingdom of Belgium agreed that the recovery of the relics will take place in Brussels on 21 June. The Congolese head of state, Félix Tshisekedi, will receive the remains in person. A tribute tour will be organised with these relics in Lumumba City, Kisangani and Shilatembo (the place where Patrice Lumumba was assassinated), before the burial at Place Échangeur in Limete (Kinshasa) in the presence of the King of Belgium.
Instructions have been given to the government to take all necessary steps to speed up preparations for this event.
For more information: Patrice Emery Lumumba: a political battle to ponder
As a reminder, it was in September 2020 that the Belgian justice finally granted the request of the Lumumba family to return the remains of the assassinated hero, a tooth that had been removed and kept by a Belgian officer who took part in the assassination. And last December, President Felix Tshisekedi decided to organise a national tribute to Patrice Lumumba on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the country’s independence on 30 June 2021. « I announce that in June 2021, on the sidelines of the 61st anniversary of our independence, the country will show its gratitude to Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, » said the first Congolese citizen. It is in this perspective that the return of the relics of the national hero to the land of his ancestors has been decided, so that a « burial worthy of his sacrifice for the country » is finally given to him.
Opposition to the repatriation of the remains of one of the sons of the illustrious departed, Guy Patrice Lumumba, which puts him at odds with his brothers, will not change the programme. « Those who represent the Lumumba family are François Lumumba, Juliana Lumumba and myself. For more than ten years we have done everything necessary to achieve this result, the return of the remains of our father to the family by the Belgian government. If people have the will to take a stand and make themselves known, that’s another debate, » Roland Lumumba said of his brother’s position.
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