Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba

Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba Ordre National «Héros-Nationaux, Kabila-Lumumba»
Awarded by Democratic Republic of the Congo
Type	State order
Established	5 August 2002
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Motto	French: "Justice, Paix, Travail" ("Justice, Peace, Work")
Eligibility	Congolese nationals and foreigners
Criteria	Merits and loyal services to the nation
Status	Active
Grand Chancellor	Félix Tshisekedi
Chancellor	André Matutezulwa
Classes	Grand Cordon Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Ribbon

Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba (French: Ordre National «Héros-Nationaux, Kabila-Lumumba») is the highest order of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is awarded to Congolese nationals and foreigners who have rendered merits and loyal services to the nation. The order was instituted in 2002 as a replacement for the National Order of the Leopard. It is named after President Laurent-Désiré Kabila and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, both of whom were assassinated while in office.

History

During the independence of the DRC, there have been four "national orders": Order of the Congolese Nation (Ordre de la Nation Congolaise), National Order of the Leopard (Ordre National du Léopard), National Order of Zaire (Ordre National du Zaïre), and the Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba, the last of which was founded by Law No. 009/2002 (5 August 2002) and amended by Decree-Law No. 012/2003 (30 March 2003). The previous national orders are no longer awarded. The order is named after President Laurent-Désiré Kabila and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Both were assassinated while in office, on 17 January 1961 and 16 January 2001, respectively. Lumumba had already been declared a "national hero" in 1966 during the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko, and Kabila followed quickly after his death when his son Joseph Kabila immediately took office as the new president. In the form of the new order, both are jointly commemorated as martyrs for national liberation against foreign influence. It is the highest order of the country, given for merits and loyal services to the nation.

An initial set of insignia was drawn up shortly after the order had been instituted. The insignia, however, had to be re-drawn after the DRC changed its flag and emblem in 2006. The insignia are manufactured by Eng Leong Medallic Industries.

It is managed by the Chancery of National Orders (Chancellerie des Ordres Nationaux), located in Gombe, Kinshasa. Its Grand Chancellor is the President of the DRC, currently Félix Tshisekedi, who is aided by the Chancellor, currently André Matutezulwa.

The Congolese orders, decorations, and medals have been marred by corruption. André Matutezulwa has publicly denied that he has ever decorated a Chinese national to the Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba. Controversy ensued when John Numbi, then Inspector General of the Congolese National Police implicated in the murder of human rights activist Floribert Chebeya and his chauffeur, was made Grand Officer of the order (17 May 2017) Some reforms to the order have been suggested. These include a new name because the current one only recognizes the two national heroes. Another suggestion has been to revive the Order of the Leopard to recognize those who have merits but are not entitled to the Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba.

The order can be awarded to both Congolese nationals and foreigners. It has separate civilian and military divisions. It can also be conferred posthumously. Membership can be revoked for treason or for other serious crimes.

Classes

It has the following five classes:

• Grand Cordon (Grand Cordon)
• Grand Officer (Grand Officier)
• Commander (Commandeur)
• Officer (Officier)
• Knight (Chevalier)

Recipients of the Grand Cordon

See also

• Orders, decorations, and medals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo