Patrice Emergy Lumumba

Patrice Emergy Lumumba , 1925-61, prime minister (1960) of the Republic of the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). A member of the Batatele tribe, he was educated in mission schools and later worked as a postal clerk. He became a member of the permanent committee of the All-African Peoples Conference (founded in Accra, 1958) and president of the Congolese National Movement, an influential political party. After the uprising (Jan., 1959) in the Congo, he fled the country to escape arrest but soon returned. Late in 1959, accused of instigating public violence, he was jailed by the Belgians but was released (1960) to participate in the Brussels Congo conference, where he emerged as a leading negotiator. When the Republic of the Congo came into existence (June, 1960) Lumumba was its first premier and minister of defense. Shortly after independence, the army mutinied, the Belgian government flew in troops to protect Belgian citizens, and Katanga province declared its independence. Lumumba appealed for aid to the United Nations, which sent troops to reestablish order. In September, President Kasavubu , his rival for power, dismissed him as prime minister and he, in turn, dismissed Kasavubu as president. Shortly afterward, Lumumba was put under house arrest by Colonel Mobutu . Lumumba escaped but was recaptured and then flown (Jan., 1961), on orders from Mobutu and Kasavubu, to Katanga, where in February, it was announced that he had been killed. Riots of protest took place in many parts of the world.

Bibliography: See his Congo: My Country (1962) and Lumumba Speaks (ed. by J. van Lierde, tr. 1972); study by T. R. Kanza (1972).

Lumumba, Patrice Emergy (1925–61) Congolese statesman, prime minister (1960–61) of Congo. He was leader of the Congolese nationalist movement against the Belgians and became first premier of the independent Republic of the Congo. The country plunged into civil war when the province of Katanga tried to secede. Lumumba appealed to the United Nations (UN) for assistance and a peace-keeping force was sent. Mobutu dismissed and imprisoned him. Lumumba escaped, but was recaptured and killed.

Lumumba, Patrice (Emergy) (1925–61) Congolese nationalist and politician. He founded the influential MNC (Mouvement National Congolais) in 1958 to bring together radical nationalists. He was accused of instigating public violence and was gaoled by the Belgians, but was released to participate in the Brussels Conference (January 1960) on the Congo. He became Prime Minister and Minister of Defence when the Congo became independent in June 1960. Sections of the army mutinied, the Belgian troops returned, and Katanga province declared its independence. Lumumba appealed to the United Nations, which sent a peacekeeping force. President Kasavubu, his rival in power, dismissed him and shortly afterwards he was put under arrest by Colonel Mobutu. He escaped, but was recaptured and killed.