Independent Africa - Congo / Zaire
History Notes
Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Kasavubu:
- 1960 Belgium ceded (gave) independence.
- 120 Political parties were in the election non won on an outright majority.
= Due to tribal differences.
- The MNC under the leadership of Patrice Lumumba won the most seats.
= National Movement of Congo.
- He became prime minister by forming a coalition government with his biggest rival,
Joseph Kasavubu (president).
- But there were issues…
= Lumumba wanted a centralized government under a unified Gongo.
= Kasavubu wanted a federation where each state had autonomy. (each state has its
own laws)
= Kasavubu was Lumumba;s biggest rival.
= Kasavubu was a communist AND always wore a military uniform.
Movement of National Congo:
- Lumumba wants to nationalize all resources.
- He believed in positive neutralization.
= Friendly to all other countries but because the US betrayed him he turned to the
USSR.
- When Lumumba announced his plan for uniting Congo
1. The army mutinied because they didn't want the top leaders to be Belgium
officers.
= Because the army top branch were Belgium, so they want one of their own in
charge
2. Two provinces broke away, claiming their own independence. (Katanga and
Kasai, who were both rich in resources)
3. Belgium still had mining interest in Katanga and 100 000 Belgians living there.
4. Almost 50% of the Congo’s revenue came from Katanga.
5. Belgium sent soldiers to defend their property.
6. Lumumba appealed to the UN to restore order and re-unite the country.
7. The UN did nothing and Lumumba accused them of aiding western interests and
turned to the USSR for support.
8. Soviet troops, vehicles and technicians came and the West became alarmed.
, Lumumba Arrested:
- Suddenly the army chief, Mobutu, got support from the USA and Belgium.
- Therefore, Patrice Lumumba was arrested and Kasavubu announced Lumumba was no
longer the Prime Minister.
- The he was killed.
Lumumba Dies:
- He was killed by the European and American mining and banking interests because he
was the only person that could hold the Congo together after independence.
- Next 5 years there will be general chaos in the Congo.
- This was all under Kasavubu due to the struggle for power between the political groups.
= All ethnic bases.
- The province of Katanga was forced by the UN to rejoin the Congo in 1963.
Mobutu Seso Seko:
- He took power in 1965.
- Did this with a military group that was supported by the US government.
- He held that position for the next 32 years.
- He always wears a hat in cartoons. (to identify him)
Congo Political Policies:
- Early system
= Paternalistic, no political opportunities for natives.
- 1950s
= Native councils.
= Limited role in local affairs.
= 1959, speedy withdrawal of Belgium. (Dropped everything and left, left nothing behind)
= Thus created a power vacuum.
- 1960s
= Gained independence from Belgium.
= MNC won most support but no outright majority.
= Kasavubu President and Lumumba was Prime Minister.
= Multi-party democracy.
= Politics dominated by tribalism.
- Effect on state instability
= Leaders in disunity.
= Outside interference.
= Army mutinied. (now control over law and order)
= Separatist movements.
- 1961 and 1965
= Military coup. (supported by the USA/CIA)
= Mobutu established a military dictatorship.
= Stability restored under Mobutu’s dictatorship.
History Notes
Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Kasavubu:
- 1960 Belgium ceded (gave) independence.
- 120 Political parties were in the election non won on an outright majority.
= Due to tribal differences.
- The MNC under the leadership of Patrice Lumumba won the most seats.
= National Movement of Congo.
- He became prime minister by forming a coalition government with his biggest rival,
Joseph Kasavubu (president).
- But there were issues…
= Lumumba wanted a centralized government under a unified Gongo.
= Kasavubu wanted a federation where each state had autonomy. (each state has its
own laws)
= Kasavubu was Lumumba;s biggest rival.
= Kasavubu was a communist AND always wore a military uniform.
Movement of National Congo:
- Lumumba wants to nationalize all resources.
- He believed in positive neutralization.
= Friendly to all other countries but because the US betrayed him he turned to the
USSR.
- When Lumumba announced his plan for uniting Congo
1. The army mutinied because they didn't want the top leaders to be Belgium
officers.
= Because the army top branch were Belgium, so they want one of their own in
charge
2. Two provinces broke away, claiming their own independence. (Katanga and
Kasai, who were both rich in resources)
3. Belgium still had mining interest in Katanga and 100 000 Belgians living there.
4. Almost 50% of the Congo’s revenue came from Katanga.
5. Belgium sent soldiers to defend their property.
6. Lumumba appealed to the UN to restore order and re-unite the country.
7. The UN did nothing and Lumumba accused them of aiding western interests and
turned to the USSR for support.
8. Soviet troops, vehicles and technicians came and the West became alarmed.
, Lumumba Arrested:
- Suddenly the army chief, Mobutu, got support from the USA and Belgium.
- Therefore, Patrice Lumumba was arrested and Kasavubu announced Lumumba was no
longer the Prime Minister.
- The he was killed.
Lumumba Dies:
- He was killed by the European and American mining and banking interests because he
was the only person that could hold the Congo together after independence.
- Next 5 years there will be general chaos in the Congo.
- This was all under Kasavubu due to the struggle for power between the political groups.
= All ethnic bases.
- The province of Katanga was forced by the UN to rejoin the Congo in 1963.
Mobutu Seso Seko:
- He took power in 1965.
- Did this with a military group that was supported by the US government.
- He held that position for the next 32 years.
- He always wears a hat in cartoons. (to identify him)
Congo Political Policies:
- Early system
= Paternalistic, no political opportunities for natives.
- 1950s
= Native councils.
= Limited role in local affairs.
= 1959, speedy withdrawal of Belgium. (Dropped everything and left, left nothing behind)
= Thus created a power vacuum.
- 1960s
= Gained independence from Belgium.
= MNC won most support but no outright majority.
= Kasavubu President and Lumumba was Prime Minister.
= Multi-party democracy.
= Politics dominated by tribalism.
- Effect on state instability
= Leaders in disunity.
= Outside interference.
= Army mutinied. (now control over law and order)
= Separatist movements.
- 1961 and 1965
= Military coup. (supported by the USA/CIA)
= Mobutu established a military dictatorship.
= Stability restored under Mobutu’s dictatorship.
