Congo is looking into damage at the site of a tooth that is thought to belong to Lumumba

The freedom hero Patrice Lumumba’s tooth, which is thought to be the only known body part, was damaged on Monday night at the tomb where it is kept, the culture ministry said Tuesday.

Lumumba was the first freely chosen prime minister of the Central African country after it got its independence from Belgium in 1960. He was killed by a firing squad in 1961, after his government was overthrown after only three months in power.

It is said that a Belgian police officer took the tooth from Lumumba’s body. The officer said that he had burned and melted most of Lumumba’s body in acid. In 2022, the tooth was given to his family.

Reuters was there on Tuesday morning and heard that the box where the tooth had been was “open and empty,” but they couldn’t say for sure if it had been stolen.

The ministry of culture also didn’t say if the tooth had been stolen.

“The site has been secured, and an investigation is underway to determine the facts and identify those responsible,” it stated.

A message to Reuters from Juliana Lumumba Amato, Lumumba’s daughter, called the damage “a despicable and incomprehensible act.”

She said, “Patrice Lumumba gave his life for his country and the Congolese people.” She also said she was still waiting for the government to tell her more.

People asked the Minister of Communications for a reply, but they didn’t answer.