Historical independence

History: Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960 independence)

From the 30 June 1960 transfer of sovereignty in Léopoldville to UN admission that September.

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Transfer of sovereignty

Belgium transferred sovereignty over the Congo at a ceremony in Léopoldville on 30 June 1960, with Joseph Kasa-Vubu as President and Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister.[1]

· Declaration

Independence of the Congo, 1960

Belgium transferred sovereignty over the Belgian Congo at a ceremony in Léopoldville on 30 June 1960, with Joseph Kasa-Vubu as President and Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister of the newly independent Republic of the Congo.

The Congo Crisis

On 5 July 1960 the Force Publique mutinied against its remaining white officers. Katanga, led by Moïse Tshombe, seceded with Belgian backing on 11 July 1960, and South Kasai, led by Albert Kalonji, seceded on 9 August 1960. The resulting Congo Crisis is estimated to have caused roughly 100,000 deaths before ending with Mobutu's coup on 25 November 1965.[2]

· Conflict episode

Congo Crisis, 1960-1965

Within days of independence, a Force Publique mutiny and the secessions of Katanga and South Kasai plunged the new state into crisis; the Congo Crisis lasted until Joseph Mobutu's coup on 25 November 1965 and is estimated to have caused roughly 100,000 deaths.

The killing of Patrice Lumumba

Lumumba was transferred to Katanga on 17 January 1961 and killed the same day. A Belgian parliamentary commission of inquiry, concluding in November 2001, found that Belgian authorities bore "moral responsibility" for failing to prevent the killing; Belgium's Foreign Minister apologised in February 2002. This history reports the commission's own finding rather than adjudicating responsibility itself.[3]

· Conflict episode

Removal and killing of Patrice Lumumba, 1961

Patrice Lumumba, the Congo's first Prime Minister, was transferred to Katanga on 17 January 1961 and killed the same day; a 2001 Belgian parliamentary commission of inquiry found that Belgian authorities bore "moral responsibility" for failing to prevent the killing, and Belgium's Foreign Minister apologised in February 2002.

United Nations membership

The Security Council unanimously recommended the Congo's UN membership on 7 July 1960, and the General Assembly admitted it on 20 September 1960.[4][5]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: At a ceremony at the Palais de la Nation in Léopoldville on 30 June 1960, Belgium transferred sovereignty over the Belgian Congo, with Joseph Kasa-Vubu becoming President and Patrice Lumumba becoming Prime Minister. In his speech, Lumumba said: "Men and women of the Congo, victorious independence fighters, I salute you in the name of the Congolese Government," and that "independence was won in struggle, a persevering and inspired struggle carried on from day to day," which "was filled with tears, fire and blood. We are deeply proud of our struggle, because it was just and noble."

    • Lumumba, Patrice, Speech at the Ceremony of the Proclamation of the Congo's Independence (Marxists Internet Archive, 30 June 1960) link, speech text. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: On 5 July 1960, days after independence, soldiers of the Force Publique mutinied against their remaining white officers. Belgium sent troops to the Congo, and on 11 July 1960 the mineral-rich province of Katanga, led by Moïse Tshombe, declared secession with Belgian backing; the province of South Kasai, led by Albert Kalonji, seceded on 9 August 1960. The resulting Congo Crisis, drawing in UN peacekeeping forces, is estimated to have caused roughly 100,000 deaths before it ended with General Joseph Mobutu's coup on 25 November 1965.

  3. 3.

    Claim: Patrice Lumumba was transferred to Katanga on 17 January 1961 and killed the same day. A Belgian parliamentary commission of inquiry, which concluded its work in November 2001, found that Belgian authorities bore "moral responsibility" for failing to prevent the killing despite knowing the danger Lumumba faced; Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel apologised to Lumumba's family and the Congolese public in February 2002.

    • Belgium apologizes for Lumumba assassination (The Globe and Mail / Associated Press, February 2002) link, article text. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: On 7 July 1960, at its 872nd meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of the Republic of the Congo (capital Léopoldville), unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that it be admitted to UN membership.

    • United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 142 (1960) (United Nations, 7 July 1960) link, resolution text. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: The General Assembly, at its 864th plenary meeting on 20 September 1960, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered the application, decided to admit the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) to United Nations membership, alongside several other newly independent states admitted the same day.

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 1480 (XV): Admission of the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville) to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 20 September 1960) link, operative paragraph. Source record

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