Youngest son of DR Congo's independence hero passes away in Kinshasa

Roland-Gilbert Okito Lumumba, the youngest son of Democratic Republic of Congo independence leader Patrice Lumumba, passed away in Kinshasa at the age of 67 after an illness.

Trained as an architect, Roland-Gilbert Okito Lumumba served as a Member of Parliament for nearly a decade. His contributions during his tenure were significant in the political landscape of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Patrice Lumumba, his father, was the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo shortly after its independence. He was ousted and subsequently assassinated in 1961 by secessionists with support from Belgium. In 2002, Belgium issued a formal apology for its involvement in his assassination and, two decades later, returned a tooth, his only known remains, to the family.

Roland-Gilbert Okito Lumumba dedicated much of his life to preserving his father's ideological legacy and advocating for the Congolese people's right to historical truth. His passing marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in the pursuit of truth and justice surrounding this historical episode. Legal proceedings regarding Patrice Lumumba's assassination remain active in Belgium.

After Patrice Lumumba's murder, the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced decades of dictatorship under Mobutu Sese Seko, who came to power in a 1965 coup and remained until his overthrow in 1997.

Based on reporting by Africanews.