Assassination of Patrice Lumumba

1960-1961

2

Belgian Control of the Congo: 1884-1960

• Home to various kingdoms before colonization

• Colony• First, King Leopold controlled

Congo personally• Abuse led the Belgium govt to

take over in 1908

3

Decolonization in Africa

• After WWII, African countries began negotiating, demanding and winning independence from the Europeans

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Pressure for Independence

Patrice Lumumba at the round table in Belgium, 1960

• Until 1950s, Belgium didn’t consider Congolese independence• Congolese political parties formed

• National Congolese Movement (MNC), co-founded by Patrice Lumbumba

• MNC: national, pro-independence party

• United Congolese from a variety of political backgrounds

• Not based on regional or ethnic identities

5

An Independent Congolese Government

Patrice LumumbaHead of MNC

Named Prime Minister

Joseph KasavubuHead of Bakongo Abako

Named President

Moise TshombeHead of Conakat

Leader of state of Katanga

Jan.1960 Belgians hosted a round table to put together a plan for independence.Agreed at the mtg. that June 30, 1960 Congo would gain independence

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Troubles for Lumumba• Trouble started quickly after independence.

• Army Mutiny b/c of mistreatment• State of Katanga tried to secede

• Leader, Moise Tshombe, not part of the new government.

• Resource rich area• < 10 weeks after he became prime minister,

Lumumba was dismissed from power by Kasavubu on Sept. 5 1960

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Removed from Power

Lumumba speaking with supporters in effort to regain office, 1960

• Colonel Joseph Motbtu, later becomes president, staged a military coup on Sept. 14

• Lumumba put under house arrest• Belgium, Britain and the United

States were all plotting Lumumba’s assassination.

8

Assassination in Katanga

Monument for Patrice Lumumba in Leipzig, Germany

• In danger, Lumumba tried to escape with his family.

• Army found Lumumba• Arrested• Beaten• Flown to Katanga province.

• Jailed for a few days • Taken to a forest• Killed by firing squad• Katangese police or military

Why was Patrice Lumumba assassinated?

Central Historical Question

Although we know the groups involved in killing Lumumba, we still need to determine why so many different actors and countries wanted him dead.