The remains of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were buried Thursday in the national capital of Kinshasa, more than 61 years after his assassination.
The Belgian government returned the remains, including a golden tooth and bones for a finger, to Lumumba's family on June 20.
A burial ceremony followed tributes from across the nation and four days of national mourning since the remains of the independent hero reached his home country June 22 from Belgium.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his counterpart from Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso, participated in the burial ceremony.
Tshisekedi hailed the bravery of the first prime minister of an independent Congo.
"To Congolese and progressive people around the world you will remain the symbol of the struggle for freedom, independence and sovereignty of peoples because of the audacity with which you had conveyed anti-colonialist ideas," said Tshisekedi. "Moreover, you are a source of inspiration and motivation for the future struggle for more freedom, democracy and development. Deep respect."
Lumumba's remains were taken around the country, including his birth province of Sankuru, for residents to pay their respects.
Lumumba was an anti-colonial icon at the time that the Democratic Republic of the Congo received independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960.
He was toppled in September of that year. Separatists from the southern region of Katanga and Belgian mercenaries executed him Jan. 17, 1961, and dissolved his body in acid.
Lumumba's remains were discovered decades later in Belgium after a Belgian police officer who took part in his assassination boasted about his actions in the media.
Authorities would eventually seize the tooth from the officer in 2016.
During a handover ceremony in Brussels, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo again apologized for his country's "moral responsibility" in Lumumba's death.
The handover came weeks after Belgium's King Philippe had visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo and reiterated his "deepest regrets for the wounds" of Belgian colonial rule.
Lumumba was born in 1925 in Onalua, in Sankuru Province. Two days of tribute were paid to the national hero in his home village. -
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