Patrice Lumumba First Prime Minister of the independent Republic of the Congo Date of Birth: 02.07.1925 Country: Congo

1. Biography of Patrice Lumumba
2. Early Life and Career
3. Prime Minister of Congo
4. Imprisonment and Death
5. Lumumba's memoir, "Congo, My Country," was published in 1961.

Biography of Patrice Lumumba

Patrice Lumumba was the first Prime Minister of the independent Republic of Congo. He was born on July 2, 1925, in Onalua, Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).

Early Life and Career

After completing his missionary schooling, Lumumba worked as a clerk, postal official, and then an employee of a Belgian company. During this time, he also engaged in literary and journalistic activities. He founded the newspaper "Uhuru" ("Freedom") and served as the director of the weekly magazine "Independence." Lumumba received his education in Belgian schools in Congo, which was a Belgian colony at the time.

At the age of 19, Lumumba started working as a postal official in Stanleyville. Eleven years later, he was imprisoned for embezzling $2500. After his release from prison, Lumumba became the President of the Congolese National Movement. In 1959, he was imprisoned again for inciting disorder but was later freed and attended the conference in Brussels in 1960, where the issue of Congo's independence was discussed.

Prime Minister of Congo

On June 30, 1960, the Republic of Congo gained independence, and Lumumba assumed the post of Prime Minister, while Joseph Kasavubu became the head of state. However, soon after, a rebellion erupted in the Congolese army, and Belgian forces returned to the country. The province of Katanga also declared independence.

In July 1960, Lumumba called for the deployment of troops to Congo in New York but did not receive the support of the United Nations. When he returned to Congo, his disagreements with the UN regarding Katanga escalated to the point where he directed army units to the Kasai Province to prepare for an invasion of Katanga.

Imprisonment and Death

On September 5, 1960, Kasavubu removed Lumumba from his duties, placing him under house arrest, and later transferring him to the military camp in Thysville near Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), where he was held in captivity. Lumumba was then sent to a remote area in Katanga.

It was reported that Lumumba escaped on February 10, 1961, but on February 12, he was killed by villagers in an unknown location. Later, there were reports suggesting that he may have died as early as January 17, 1961.

Lumumba's memoir, "Congo, My Country," was published in 1961.