The inception of the Palais de Marbre dates back to 1970 when Governor Albert Ndele Bamu of the National Bank of the Congo initiated its construction. Originally conceived as an "official residence" for himself within the Binza hills of Ngaliema commune, the design process was entrusted to Eugène Palumbo and Fernand Tala N'Gai's design team, renowned for their work on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complex and the Supreme Court.[6][7][8] The resulting structure adopted a hypermodern, circular design that incorporated segments of the surrounding garden and prominently featured marble imported from an Italian quarry, with a statue of a prodigious lion at its main entrance.[7][9] The design, in harmony with the site's topography, was said to resemble the map of the Congo. Ndele was named Minister of Finance in September 1970 (considered a demotion), then dismissed in 1971.[10][11][12] Although the Bank claimed the property in its inventory, the Marble Palace was confiscated by President Mobutu Sese Seko, who converted it into one of his opulent palaces and a guesthouse for high-ranking visitors,[8] including the U.S. National Security Advisor, Henry Alfred Kissinger in April 1976.[13][14][15]
Visitors, including schoolchildren, inside the palace during its annual public opening on 16 and 17 January.
The historic official residence of the Congolese head of state was situated on Mont Ngaliema. This presidential compound, however, was heavily looted in 1997 following the collapse of the Mobutu regime during the First Congo War.[16][17] On 17 May 1997, troops from the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL)—comprising kadogos (child soldiers) and Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) soldiers led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila—entered Kinshasa, prompting Mobutu to flee into exile in Morocco, where he later died.[18][19][20] Upon seizing power, the AFDL ordered the evacuation of residents from state-owned apartments, often within a single hour. Following Mobutu's ouster, Laurent-Désiré Kabila took up residence in the Palais de Marbre.[18][16][17] On 16 January 2001, he was assassinated inside the palace by a member of his security detail.[16][17] His son and successor, Joseph Kabila, reportedly refused to reside there, and instead moved into a villa known as GLM. The villa, named after Jean-Joseph Litho Moboti Nzoyombo Te Awe, the uncle of Mobutu, had been assigned to Moboti during the Zairianization policy period.[18][21] According to Joseph Kabila's entourage, he later became the de facto owner of the property.[18] However, legal claims surrounding GLM remain contested. It is a co-owned property, originally registered to Belgian businessman William Damseaux through his firm Congo-Frigo, and later partially sold to Litho Moboti.[18] Legal representatives of the Moboti family argue that Joseph Kabila does not possess legal ownership or tenancy rights. In addition, Kabila appropriated the "Gécamines" residence, initially intended for the Prime Minister, as well as the official residence of the President of the Legislative Council, located across from the military officers' mess.[18]
On 13 February 2001, Nelson Mandela visited the Palais de Marbre for discussions with the newly inaugurated President Joseph Kabila, focusing on regional peace and stabilization.[22][23] Following the 2018 general elections, Félix Tshisekedi succeeded Joseph Kabila and was formally handed the keys to the Palais de la Nation.[24] However, the presidential villa in the city center, formerly occupied by Kabila, was not transferred. As a result, after spending the first night of his presidency at the Kempinski Hotel, Tshisekedi relocated to the Cité de l'Union Africaine.[24]
Tourism
A woman standing next to Laurent-Désiré Kabila's portrait outside the palace during its annual 16–17 January opening.
Exterior view
The Marble Palace is open to the public for two days a year: 16 January and 17 January, nationally recognized as "the days of the martyrs."[1][25][26][27] These days are dedicated to the memory of two martyrs, Patrice Émery Lumumba, assassinated in Lubumbashi on 17 January 1961, and Laurent-Désiré Kabila, assassinated at the Marble Palace on 16 January 2001. The Palace has meticulously preserved historical artifacts, including the bloodstained chair on which Laurent-Désiré Kabila was shot. Parenthetically, it exhibits a collection of photographs documenting Laurent-Désiré Kabila's political journey, from his time in Les maquis to his eventual rise to power on 17 May 1997. Various works of art, honoring his legacy, also adorn the palace.[1][25][28][27][29]
↑Ikabe, Jean-Pierre Eale (13 January 2023). "Hommage aux Héros Kabila et Lumumba"[Tribute to Heroes Kabila and Lumumba]. e-journal.info (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
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