Patrice Lumumba was
the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo and is credited with
making great strides to free the region from Belgian colonization.
Many of his tactics were questioned and some say he caused unrest in the Congo.
Lumumba endured criticism, several arrests and torture. Here are 10 ways Patrice
Lumumba paid for his beliefs.
1. He published political essays
while working a day job
While working as a postal service clerk just
to get by in the 1940s, Lumumba spent his spare time writing poems and essays
regarding Belgian oppression of the African people. He had them published and
gained a reputation as a civil organizer.
2. He went to jail on charges of
embezzlement
Lumumba worked briefly for the Liberal Party
of Belgium, editing and distributing party literature. During that time, he was
arrested on charges of embezzlement. He was sentenced to two years in prison,
which was reduced to 12 months after authorities said he had
returned the money.
3. He was arrested for starting an
anti-colonial riot
As president of the Mouvement National
Congolais, a pro-independence group in the Belgian Congo, Lumumba started an
anti-colonial riot in 1959. He was sentenced to prison for more than
five years. Due to pressure, Lumumba was released from prison after a couple
of months.
4. He spoke out during Independence
Day
On June 30, 1960 — the Congo’s Independence
Day from Belgium — Belgium King Baudouin gave a speech asserting that the
Congo owed much of its freedom and structures to the Belgians, and that the
Congo needed colonialism. Though not scheduled to speak, Lumumba gave an
impromptu speech assuring the Congolese people that they did not need Belgian
colonialism.
5. He pointed out to Belgian
colonialists the errors of their ways
In many ways, Lumumba’s Independence Day
speech forced the Belgian king to see the horrors behind the “pageantry and
paternalism” that he had forced the country to endure. After that speech, much
of the non-African world criticized Lumumba for being harsh. Africans were
happy with the speech.
6. He raised
government salaries
One of Lumumba’s first acts as prime minister
was to raise salaries for everyone in the government, except for the army.
This sparked military revolts all over the country. Soldiers ransacked the
streets, drawing major media attention.
7. He got a reputation as a
communist
After Lumumba became prime minister of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, other leaders tried to overturn him. After the
U.N. denied Lumumba’s request for intervention, he turned to the Soviet Union
for military assistance, which made the U.S. believe he had communist ties. A
C.I.A. operative was sent to poison Lumumba, but was unsuccessful.
8. He fought his removal from
government
After some of Lumumba’s reforms resulted
in him being removed from a position in government, he protested and
secured a vote of confidence from the Senate, making it difficult for the
new prime minister to gain parliament’s confidence.
9. He was captured and escaped
Lumumba was captured and put on house arrest
in the new prime minister’s house, but escaped to Stanleyville where he
allegedly had plans to set up his own government and military.
10. He was captured and killed
Military leader Joseph Mobutu overpowered
Lumumba and had him captured and killed. His death to this day sparks
conversation about how foreign investment can create turmoil in Africa.
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