DRC: the remains of Patrice Lumumba return to the country

The plane carrying the remains of Patrice Lumumba landed in Kinshasa this Wednesday, June 22, 2022. © Paulina Zidi / RFI

Text by: Paulina Zidi Follow

2 mins

The remains of Patrice Lumumba arrived in the DRC on Wednesday June 22, 2022. This return marks the start of a ten-day tour across the country.

The opportunity to finally pay tribute to the first Congolese Prime Minister assassinated more than 61 years ago.

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From our special correspondent on the road to Onalua Lumumba-ville,

Military honors on take-off in Brussels, military honors on landing in Kinshasa.

In the early morning, when the sun had just risen over the Congolese capital, the plane carrying the remains of Patrice Lumumba, in the colors of the former Prime Minister, landed in the capital.

A

for the members of the delegation accompanying the coffin and in particular for the captain who confided his pride in having had the responsibility of bringing the national hero home.

In the flight that left Belgium and the Melsbroek military airport on Tuesday evening, there was the family, part of the executive, including Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, early activists and journalists.

In all, a hundred people who attended all the commemorations in Belgium.

Moment of emotion at the arrival of the coffin of Patrice Lumumba this Wednesday, June 22, 2022. © Paulina Zidi / RFI

This first stage marks the definitive return of the national hero to Congolese soil after 61 years of waiting.

Part of the delegation must then take the road to Onalua, the native village of Patrice Lumumba, in Sankuru.

A city recently renamed “

”.

On the program, three days of family meditation.

The procession will then head north, towards Kisangani, where Patrice Lumumba's political commitment was born, before reaching Lubumbashi, in Katanga.

The coffin of the first Congolese Prime Minister will then be taken to Shilatembo, where he was executed on January 17, 1961, with two companions in misfortune.

Finally, it will be the return to Kinshasa for the three days of national mourning and the ceremony in the presence of national and international officials.

► To read also: Restitution of the remains of Lumumba: "He was and will always remain our national hero"

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