The Congolese community in Moscow held its annual ceremony in front of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia on January 17. The ambassador of the DRC told Sputnik that he came to "remind the younger generation of the quintessence of his [Lumumba's] struggle," which - he believed - must continue.
January 17 was the anniversary of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, hero of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was killed by his enemies 62 years ago in 1961.
Just as every year, the People's Friendship University of Russia honored his memory this Tuesday in Moscow. For thirty years during the Soviet era, the university bore the name of Lumumba.
Among the guests was lvan Vangu Ngimbi, ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Russia. He shared his emotions with Sputnik:
"It is an honor for us because Patrice Emery Lumumba - who is our national hero - represents the symbol of the struggle for independence, the struggle for dignity, the struggle for brotherhood between peoples."
According to the diplomat, Lumumba "passed away too young". At the ceremony, he called on people to "remind the younger generations of the quintessence of his struggle" and invite them to "take up the torch to continue the fight."
A Fight That Must Continue
According to the diplomat, "Africa is not yet fully independent, especially in economic terms [and] it is therefore necessary that Africa becomes a true actor and subject of its history."
The youth must "wake up" to "go to the forefront to be able to conquer their freedom, their independence and exercise their sovereignty," the diplomat believes.
Patrice Lumumba "is an inspiring figure for the youth," echoed Gael Kazembe, vice president of the DRC community in Moscow. "Young people can take their example from him."
"We are trying to perpetuate his ideas," he continued. The student hoped that the friendship between Russia and Congo would continue.
Volker Turk has warned that efforts to advance reparatory justice are facing resistance in “certain quarters,” and urged countries to back Africa’s push.
Reparatory justice for historical crimes, including colonialism, enslavement, and the trade in enslaved Africans, is crucial to dismantling systemic racism, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has said.
Speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent on Tuesday, Turk linked present-day discrimination against people from the continent to the enduring legacy of colonialism and enslavement.
”Racism and dehumanizing rhetoric continue to permeate public institutions, communities, and online platforms,” he said, according to the UN Press Service. Turk noted that “digital technologies, including AI, are reproducing and amplifying existing biases against people of African descent.”
The remarks come weeks after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade “the gravest...
The US VP had to defend President Trump’s Gaza policy at a rally on a Georgia college campus.
US Vice President J.D. Vance was forced to defend Washington’s policy in Gaza after he was booed and heckled at a key MAGA event on Wednesday.
Co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) is a conservative student group that has long been seen as a strong support base of President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement but is now showing apparent cracks.
Less than 15 minutes into a TPUSA event at the University of Georgia on Wednesday, Vance was interrupted by hecklers over US policy in Gaza, with one audience member shouting, “Jesus Christ does not support genocide!” As he attempted to respond, others shouted, “You’re killing children!” and “You’re bombing children!”
Vance replied by referring to Trump’s achievements as president, including securing a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, something he said the previous administration of Joe Biden failed to do.
“I ...
Sergey Shoigu has cautioned Finland and the Baltic states against allowing Kiev to use their airspace for attacks on Russia.
Russia would have the right to retaliate if Finland and the Baltic states are deliberately allowing Ukrainian drones to pass through their airspace, Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu said on Thursday.
“Recently, there has been an increase in Ukrainian drone strikes against Russia via Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia,” Shoigu told journalists. “As a result, civilians are suffering and significant damage is being caused to civilian infrastructure.”
Either Western air defenses are proving ineffective, or these four countries “deliberately provide their airspace, thereby becoming open accomplices in aggression against Russia,” he added. In the latter case, Moscow has the right to self-defense in response to an “armed attack” under Article 51 of the UN Charter, the security chief stressed.
In recent weeks, Kiev has intensified drone strikes on ...
