Biography
Lumumba’s party won the argument for a unitary independent Congo. Independence in June 1960 was followed by mutiny, secession, and foreign intervention. He was murdered in January 1961.
Africa · 1951–1990
PL
Primary revolution
Patrice Lumumba
Congolese Independence
First prime minister of the independent Congo, killed within months during the Congo crisis.
Life
1925–1961
1925–1961
Place
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Years
1960–1961
1960–1961
Map
-4.4419, 15.2663
-4.4419, 15.2663
Revolution
Theme. Independence · Sovereignty
Key figures. Joseph Mobutu
Outcome. Formal independence survived. Lumumba’s government did not.
Casualties. The Congo crisis of the early 1960s killed tens of thousands.
Influence. A symbol of how quickly an independence leader could be removed in the Cold War.