Patrice Lumumba: Speech at the Proclamation of Congolese Independence

Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the former Belgian Congo, led his country to independence. In Lumumba's Speech at the Proclamation of Congolese Independence (June 30, 1960), he denounced the oppression and humiliation of colonial rule in the presence of Belgium's King Baudouin. The king, scandalized, nearly left Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa), but he was persuaded to stay for the lunch that followed the ceremony. Lumumba, for his part, was persuaded to give a second speech at the lunch, in which he attempted to make amends, crediting Belgium and its monarchy for its positive contributions to Congo. However, the damage had been done.

Lumumba's Speech at the Proclamation of Congolese Independence had not been included in the program for the day's events, a program negotiated by representatives of Congo and Belgium. The heads of state, King Baudouin of Belgium and President Joseph Kasavubu of Congo, were to exchange speeches. In Lumumba's view, Kasavubu was a figurehead chief of state who owed his post to support from Lumumba and his coalition. Kasavubu, he believed, should have cleared his speech with the prime minister. Moreover, Lumumba apparently feared that Kasavubu would fail to say some things that needed to be said.

Lumumba's fiery speech was prepared beforehand, so it was not a reaction or reply to what the previous speakers had said. However, he must have known what to expect from the Belgian ruler and from his political rival Kasavubu. It is too simple to suggest that without Lumumba's speech, Congo's decolonization might have been more successful. The speech certainly seemed to have provided ammunition for those who opposed Lumumba and his vision of a strong, independent Congo.

Five days after independence, the army mutinied against its European officers. In response, the Lumumba government was obliged to Africanize the officer corps. From July 6 to July 9, the mutiny spread to Equateur and Katanga provinces, and Belgium sent in paratroopers, allegedly to protect its citizens. Moise Tshombe declared Katanga independent, whereupon Lumumba and Kasavubu requested UN military assistance in the face of Belgian aggression and Katanga secession. On July 12 the UN Security Council called for Belgian withdrawal and authorized UN intervention.

In August, Albert Kalonji led South Kasai into secession. Lumumba sent the national army into the breakaway province, where it carried out massacres of civilians. Concerned that the UN force sent to help restore order was not helping to crush the secessionists, Lumumba turned to the Soviet Union for assistance. The U.S. government saw the Soviet activity as a maneuver to spread Communist influence in central Africa. Kasavubu, upset by the Soviet arrival, dismissed Lumumba. Lumumba declared Kasavubu deposed. Both Lumumba and Kasavubu then ordered Joseph Mobutu, army chief of staff, to arrest the other. On September 14, 1960, Mobutu took control in a coup sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency. The new regime placed Lumumba under house arrest for the second time and kept Kasavubu as president. In November 1960 Deputy Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga went to Stanleyville to establish a rival national government. Lumumba, under house arrest, left to join Gizenga but was arrested and imprisoned. In January 1961 Lumumba was transferred to Katanga, where, on January 17, he was executed by firing squad.