Today Marks the 58th Anniversary of the Assassination of the DRC's Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba was the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo following its independence.
Today the DRC celebrates Heroes Day and honors its first democratically elected Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Lumumba came into power after what was then the Republic of the Congo received its independence from its colonizer, Belgium. Whilst speculation and conspiracy still surrounds his assassination in 1961 till this day, it has long been alleged that he was murdered by the US working together with Belgium.
Lumumba was significant in the Republic of Congo securing its independence and eventually becoming what we now know as the DRC. Due to his considerable and understandable dislike for his Belgium colonizers, he joined the Liberal Party of Belgium in 1955. Following his arrest by the colonial government, he went on to co-found the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) in 1958 and proceeded to win the elections in 1960 at the age of 34. Read more on his life here.
Lumumba's anniversary comes exactly a week after the DRC's elections which saw the end of Joseph Kabila's 17-year rule and ushered in what will hopefully be a brighter era under the leadership of Felix Tshisekedi. The victory by Tshisekedi and his political party Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP) came after international pressure succeeded in putting an end to the delay tactics in the announcing of the election results. His victory, however, has been disputed of late.
Many Congolose Twitter users and Africans alike, have taken to social media to commemorate the revolutionary's anniversary as well as the DRC's journey since colonial rule.
Since the assassination of Patrice Lumumba DRC has never realised democracy & peace ,the DRC allowed Belgium to ass… https://t.co/DhJQq8g93Z— Major General (@Major General) 1547711884.0
Today, 17 January, we remember the Son of the Soil, Patrice Lumumba, first Prime Minister of Democratic Republic of… https://t.co/kLtrnwUxXt— SteveBikoFoundation (@SteveBikoFoundation) 1547712025.0
“Without dignity there is no liberty, without justice there is no dignity, and without independence there are no fr… https://t.co/gcJhpFyzz4— Culture Matters (@Culture Matters) 1547714491.0
Patrice Lumumba was a great visionary and a true nationalist! Africa needs more leaders like #Lumumba! The OSF pays… https://t.co/5UVqOrMksS— The Oken Samuel Fdn. (@The Oken Samuel Fdn.) 1547713639.0
On this day 58 years ago, the first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo, Patrice Lum… https://t.co/ET8pv6wKDy— Namuli-Asantewaa (@Namuli-Asantewaa) 1547708848.0
Assassinated 58 years ago today- Patrice Lumumba. Powerful Final letter to his wife #Lumumba #PatriceLumumba #drc… https://t.co/GhVUFW8K5M— Samira Sawlani (@Samira Sawlani) 1547714977.0
We remember Patrice Lumumba, assassinated 17 Jan 1961, seven months after independence. The Belgians with US assist… https://t.co/aihCuP6N1E— Pinky Khoabane (@Pinky Khoabane) 1547702070.0