When is Heroes' Day?
National Heroes' Day is observed on two consecutive days in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
On January 16th, President Laurent Kabila is honoured and on 17th, Patrice Lumumba is honoured. Both days are observed on the date of their deaths.
Laurent Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was an important figure in the Congolese revolution who moved in politics, serving as the third President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 17th 1997, when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko.
Kabila was assassinated in his office by one of his bodyguards on January 16th 2001. He was succeeded eight days later by his son Joseph.
Patrice Lumumba
When the Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium in June 1960, Patrice Émery Lumumba was elected as the country's first Prime Minister. Only three months later, he was ousted from power in a coup and was sent to prison under orders by his chief-of-staff Joseph-Desiré Mobutu.
On January 17th 1961, Lumumba was killed by a firing squad from the Katangan authorities, a secessionist mineral-rich region.
