Belgium is returning a tooth from Patrice Lumumba to his daughter. It is said to be the only body part of the Congolese independence leader that turned up after his disappearance.
Lumumba worked for the independence of Congo 60 years ago. When Belgium left the colony, he became the country’s first prime minister. In January 1961, the 35-year-old politician was murdered after a coup d’état. His body would have dissolved in acid.
The tooth turned up in 1999 at a Belgian former police officer, who said he was involved in the murder. He had taken the tooth like a trophy.
Raid
In 2016, when the policeman had already died, the tooth was seized in a raid on his daughter’s home. At the time, Belgium was investigating the country’s involvement in the murder. The conclusion was that the country had at least been “morally responsible”.
In June, around the celebration of 60 years of Congolese independence, Lumumba’s daughter wrote a letter to the Belgian king asking him to return the tooth. “We just want to be able to say goodbye.”
No DNA research
The Belgian court has now ruled that the tooth is going back. It is striking that no DNA research has been done to obtain 100 percent certainty about the origin of the tooth; according to the OM, the tooth would be completely destroyed.
The tooth will be transferred to the next of kin at a later date.
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