Patrice Lumumba Mausoleum Vandalized, Relic Confirmed Safe

Six suspects arrested after break-in at the Kinshasa mausoleum of Congo's independence hero; the gold-capped tooth remains secure.

The mausoleum of Patrice Lumumba, the Democratic Republic of Congo's first prime minister and independence leader, was vandalized earlier this week in Kinshasa.
Authorities confirmed that Lumumba's gold-capped tooth, the only surviving relic of his remains, was not damaged and is being kept in a secure, undisclosed location.
Six suspects have been arrested in connection with the break-in, with police still searching for two additional individuals believed to be involved.
The vandalism has drawn widespread condemnation, with Lumumba's family and cultural officials calling for better protection of the site, which symbolizes Congo's anti-colonial struggle.
The tooth, returned to Congo by Belgium in 2022 after decades in Belgian custody, holds immense historical and symbolic significance for the Congolese people.