WritePatrice Lumumba is the first and only democratically elected head of state in the Congo. Now the evidence is in that Belgium and the USA were implicit in both his unseating and his death. Belgium issued a formal apology in February of 2002; the USA has had to admit complicity but has not apologized.

Lumumba strove for nationalism in the Congo across racial, ethnic, tribal and economic lines. This postal worker turned politician found his focus in workers rights as a union organizer and fought for the rights of the native Congolese no matter what tribe. His efforts led to Belgian colonialists turning over the government to the natural citizens of the Congo.

Lumumba was imprisoned twice, once for embezzlement from the Post Office where he worked as an accountant and once for inciting riots. He founded the first Nationalist Congolese political party and the first all native workers union.

There were five years of civil war after the unseating of Lumumba and finally with the help of Belgium and the USA Motutu was installed as dictator. He ruled as one of the most brutal dictators of modern times until overthrown by former DeBeers diamond buyer Kabila.

Where would Zaire be today if Lumumba had had support instead of harassment by Belgium and the USA? No one really knows. Had the mineral wealth of the Katanga region not been such a tempter of greed would things have been different?

Lumumba had a dream to unite the people of the Congo. Only the future knows if that dream will be realized.

your article here

Learn more about this author, Betsy Young.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The legacy of Patrice Lumumba?
We want to hear your view. Write now!