Congo’s Patrice Lumumba was arrested Dec. 2
On December 2, 1960, Congo’s Patrice Lumumba was arrested by Mobuto Sese Seko’s Belgian and CIA backed coup.
On January 7, 1961, Lumumba, after weeks of torture, was murdered and his body thrown into a vat of acid in attempt to hide the evidence of his assassination.
“Lumumba represents the symbol of unity in the Congo, … Moreover, he is the hero of independence.” Francois Lumumba, Patrice Lumumba’s eldest son.
Congo’s progressive minded Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, was one of the great African politicians with a vision of a Pan African union that would fight against the on going colonial control of the continent. The Congo was a prize possession because of its mineral riches, and Lumumba represented a threat to existing geo political powers. After the country gained independence in 1960, Belgium and the US became increasingly agitated over Lumumba’s Congo and Africa first policies. By the fall of ’60, he was removed from power, arrested on December 2, and assassinated in the first week of 1961.
The murder of Lumumba and his replacement by the US-backed dictator Mobutu Sese Seko laid the foundation for the decades of internal strife, dictatorship, and economic decline that have marked postcolonial Congo. The destabilization of Congolese society under Mobutu’s brutal rule — lasting from 1965 to 1997 — culminated in a series of devastating conflicts, known as the first and second Congo wars (or “Africa’s world wars”). These conflicts not only fractured Congolese society but also engulfed nearly all of the country’s neighbors, ultimately involving nine African nations and around twenty-five armed groups. By the formal end of the conflict, around 2003, nearly 5.4 million people had died from the fighting and its aftermath, making the war the world’s second deadliest conflict since World War II.
Why They Killed Patrice Lumumba
DR Congo’s 2021 stamps honoured Patrice Lumumba. The 4 stamp set offered a portrait of the Prime Minister at various stages of his career, including the days leading up to his murder. The 4th stamp is the last known photo taken of him, on the day of his arrest..
National Heroes – Patrice Lumumba
Issued by DR Congo in 2021
A good starting point in understanding Patrice Lumumba’s place in history is the documentary below. It will give you a broad overview of events around Congo’s independence and Lumumba’s dreams for his country and people. Pay special attention to the Independence ceremonies at 16:25. This was a key moment in modern DR Congo’s future and signed Lumumba’s death warrant. To gain an understanding of the complexities behind Congo independence, Patrice’s speech and modern Congolese events, you have to dig into the history of the region and the horrific genocide from the previous century. King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild (Published 1999) is an approachable and intelligent look at the colonization of the Congo and it’s long term, devastating effects.
Run time: 1 hr 14 min.
Further Reading:
Unfinished history: 60 years after the murder of DRC hero, Lumumba It’s a decent primer on the events of 1961 from the Nigerian daily newspaper Vanguard.
50 Years ago the Assassination of Patrice Lumumba. You can download it free.
Slain independence hero Lumumba’s last remains to return home | CGTN Africa
Any Justice For The Children After The Brutal Murder Of Lumumba? (modernghana.com)