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Death of Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi

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Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi, a 21 year old Congolese student at the University of Quebec at Trois-Riviéres, was reported missing on the afternoon of 2 October 2024. Her body was found on Tuesday, 8 October 2024, on Saint-Quentin Island.

Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi
Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi
BornMay 2003
Democratic Republic of Congo
Disappeared2 October 2024 (age 21)
Saint-Quentin Island
Body discoveredSaint-Quentin Island in Trois-Rivières, Que
Other namesAlex
EducationUniversity of Quebec
OccupationStudent
Parents
  • Georges Lumbayi (father)
  • Rosemine Ndjondo (mother)

Background

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Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi was born in May 2003 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is the sole offspring of her parents, Rosemine Ndjondo and Georges Lumbayi. Rosemine Ndjondo described her daughter as a considerate young woman who was hardworking and dedicated to her academic pursuits. Alexandra Martine had been studying business administration at UQTR for the past year.[1]

Disappearance

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The Trois-Rivières police have requested assistance from the public in locating 21-year-old Alexandra. She was last spotted on Wednesday, 2 October, in the afternoon, around 3:40 p.m., in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin Island.[2]

Alexandra had black hair and brown eyes. She stands approximately 1.73 meters (5 feet, 6 inches) tall and weighs around 45 kilograms (99 pounds). At the time of her disappearance, she was dressed in dark clothing and was seen carrying a large white shoulder bag.[3]

Surveillance footage from Saint-Quentin Island on Wednesday, 2 October, at around 4:10 p.m., shows Alexandra alone in at least four instances. Her last recorded movements were towards a wooded area of the island.[4] Her roommate, the last person to see her after dropping her off, remains uncharged. "The roommate was the one to file the initial report and has been interviewed by investigators".[5] Alexandra's mother, Rosemine Ndjondo, reported her missing after several days without contact. Over the weekend, she released a TikTok video to raise awareness about her daughter's disappearance, pleading for help.[6] In the video, she shared her anguish, stating, "I haven't been drinking, I'm not eating, I'm not sleeping. I don't even know how to close my eyes anymore or how to live".[7]

Provincial police launched a search for Lumbayi and continue to investigate the events surrounding her death. Students and members of Congolese, Cameroonian, and Senegalese communities joined the search, with some actively assisting on the island. Josée-Anne Labrousse, the park's general manager, stated that the staff empathizes deeply with Alexandra's loved ones and pledged the park's cooperation to assist in the investigation.[8] On Tuesday morning, a kayaker found her body in the St. Maurice River near the marina and Kruger Wayagamack Inc. property at 10:20 a.m.[9] The coroner identified the remains as 21-year-old Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi later that afternoon, as reported by Radio-Canada.[1] Rosemine later posted a TikTok video thanking those who helped in the search. The family traveled to Trois-Rivières, where they met with Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Mayor Jean Lamarche, who offered condolences and the community's support as outlined in an official statement.[10][11] Attending the meeting were also Joska Kabongo Ngoy, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's ambassador-designate, and Caroline D'Astous, UQTR's government relations director. In Kinshasa, President Félix Tshisekedi and his wife, Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi, received Alexandra's parents at the Cité de l'Union Africaine.[12] Yelu Mulop, coordinator of the Presidency's specialized service on youth and violence prevention, remarked that the President has committed to supporting the family while investigations continue.[13][14]

Public reactions

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During an interview on Radio Canada's Toujours le matin program on 14 October 2024, Karol Ntemo, secretary general of the Congolese community at UQTR, voiced a prevailing impatience and frustration within the community. "There is a strong desire for clarity regarding whether a funeral will take place and if a gathering can be arranged. While we are indeed in a state of confusion, our primary focus remains on honoring our sister with a proper burial. This is our foremost objective".[15]

Approximately fifty individuals convened at the Ormeaux Community Centre in Trois-Rivières to honour Alexandra. Yvon Nawej, a professor at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières (UQTR), took the initiative to arrange this event in order to provide comfort to some of his students who expressed a desire to be heard and understood.[16]

Women from the NGO Génération Femme and Radio de la Femme took to the streets of Kinshasa on Friday, 11 October, at the behest of Elfie Esther Nkishi Ilunga. The peaceful demonstration commenced at the Batetela stop in the Gombe commune and concluded at the Canadian embassy in Kinshasa, where a memorandum was presented and read by Elfie Esther Nkishi, the founder of Génération Femme and the General Director of Radio de la Femme.[17]

Congolese actress Bellevue Kandy conveyed her sympathies through a heartfelt statement, stating, "The most profound tears are not those that fall from our eyes, but rather those that remain unspoken within our hearts, where they linger and cause us pain. Your passing has profoundly impacted us all. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the departed." Approximately 400 students, predominantly of African descent, assembled on Tuesday evening at the base of UQTR to honour the memory of their fellow student.[18]

Funeral

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On 5 November 2024, nearly 200 individuals gathered in Montreal to pay their respects at the funeral of Alexandra Martin Diengo Lumbayi. Attendees included residents from Quebec and Trois-Rivières, who traveled to Montreal for the occasion.[19]

The family expressed a desire to hold the funeral in Quebec, where Alexandra had been studying and where she passed away.[20] After the ceremony, Alexandra's remains were repatriated to Kinshasa on 28 November.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lebel, Kassandra (6 October 2024). "La mère de l'étudiante portée disparue lance un appel à l'aide". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  2. ^ Ndjock, Yvan Tounssi (8 October 2024). "Canada: l'étudiante congolaise Alexandra Lumbayi portée disparue depuis plusieurs jours". Newstories Africa (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Mystère au Canada après la mort d'une étudiante: disparue depuis une semaine, son corps a été retrouvé flottant dans une rivière" [Mystery in Canada after the death of a student: missing for a week, her body was found floating in a river]. ladepeche.fr (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Canada: Disparition inquiétante d'une étudiante congolaise à Trois-Rivières, les autorités en alerte" [Canada: Disturbing disappearance of a Congolese student in Trois-Rivières, authorities on alert]. Actualite.cd (in French). 8 October 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  5. ^ St-Yves, Amélie (7 October 2024). "Le colocataire de l'étudiante disparue a collaboré avec la police" [Missing student's roommate cooperated with police]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Disparition d'Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi: Appel au soutien des autorités congolaises et canadiennes" [Disappearance of Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi: Call for support from Congolese and Canadian authorities]. New-messager-de-la-paix.net (in French). 8 October 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  7. ^ Amarachi (9 October 2024). "Heartbroken Mother Mourns As Body Of Missing 21-year-old Congolese Student Is Found In River In Canada". Tori.ng. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Québec: Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi retrouvée morte au bord d'une rivière" [Quebec: Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi found dead on the banks of a river]. Lebledparle (in French). 9 October 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  9. ^ St-Yves, Amélie; Houle, Amélie (8 October 2024). "Le corps retrouvé à l'île Saint-Quentin est bien celui de l'étudiante disparue" [The body found on Saint-Quentin Island is indeed that of the missing student]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  10. ^ St-Yves, Amélie (25 October 2024). ""La réalité est là. Mon bébé n'est plus"" ["The reality is there. My baby is no more".]. Le Quotidien (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  11. ^ Grenon, Julie (3 November 2024). "Les parents d'Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi veulent des réponses" [Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi's parents want answers]. Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Canada/Décès d'Alexandra Lumbayi: Le Couple Présidentiel exprime son soutien à la famille de la défunte" [Canada/Death of Alexandra Lumbayi: The Presidential Couple expresses its support to the family of the deceased]. Présidence de la RDC (in French). 10 October 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  13. ^ Sika, Jean-Jacques Jarele (10 October 2024). "RDC: Le couple présidentiel s'est entretenu avec les parents d'Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi, jeune étudiante congolaise retrouvée morte au Canada" [DRC: The presidential couple spoke with the parents of Alexandra Diengo Lumbayi, a young Congolese student found dead in Canadahttps]. Les Echos du Congo Brazzaville (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  14. ^ Naomie, Mena Lutete (11 October 2024). "Décès de l'étudiante Alexandra Lumbayi: le couple présidentiel accorde son soutien à la famille de la défunte" [Death of student Alexandra Lumbayi: the presidential couple grants its support to the family of the deceased]. Mediacongo.net (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  15. ^ Forcier-Martin, Cassandre (14 October 2024). "Décès de l'étudiante congolaise: l'impatience se fait sentir à l'UQTR" [Death of Congolese student: impatience is felt at UQTR]. Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  16. ^ Lebel, Kassandra (19 October 2024). "Un rassemblement à la mémoire d'Alexandra" [A gathering in memory of Alexandra]. Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  17. ^ Nzila, Ephra (11 October 2024). "Meurtre d'Alexandra au Canada: à l'initiative d'Elfie Esther Nkishi, les femmes ont marché à Kinshasa pour réclamer justice" [Murder of Alexandra in Canada: at the initiative of Elfie Esther Nkishi, women marched in Kinshasa to demand justice]. Radio de la Femme (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  18. ^ Houle, Sébastien (9 October 2024). "Deuil et stupeur à l'UQTR: "Alex, ce soir nous serons ta famille"" [Mourning and shock at UQTR: "Alex, tonight we will be your family"]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  19. ^ Forcier-Martin, Cassandre; Marceau, Marilyn (5 November 2024). "Un dernier au revoir à Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi" [A final goodbye to Alexandra Martine Diengo Lumbayi]. Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  20. ^ Muamba, Clement (10 October 2024). "Le rapatriement du corps d'Alexandra et l'enquête sur sa mort au coeur d'échange entre le gouvernement, la famille et l'ambassadrice du Canada à Kinshasa" [The repatriation of Alexandra's body and the investigation into her death at the heart of discussions between the government, the family and the Canadian ambassador in Kinshasa]. Actualite.cd (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Le corps d'Alexandra Martine, étudiante congolaise disparue et retrouvée morte au Canada, rapatrié à Kinshasa" [Body of Alexandra Martine, Congolese student who disappeared and was found dead in Canada, repatriated to Kinshasa]. Mbote (in French). 28 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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