Ambroise Boimbo steals the ceremonial sword of King Baudouin I of Belgium on the eve of the independence of the Belgian Congo.

On June 29, 1960 as King Baudouin parades through Leopoldville, Ambroise Boimbo ran up to his car and took his ceremonial sword. While he was arrested and the sword returned, the photo and symbology was an inspiration to the Congolese. It is symbolic of the paternalism of the idea that independence would be 'given' from the Belgian authorities not taken by the people of Africa. Just ten days after independence, Belgian troops were deployed in Katanga and with King Baudouin’s full knowledge, Belgium continued to intervene to protect the interests of Belgian companies for many years.