XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
Central Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Congo Independence Crisis was a period of political fragmentation, foreign intervention, armed conflict, and institutional breakdown that followed independence from Belgium in 1960. Rival authorities emerged in Léopoldville, Stanleyville, Katanga, and Kasai, while the United Nations, Soviet Union, Belgium, and the United States became involved. The crisis included the Katanga secession, the dismissal and assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and the eventual suppression of the Katanga rebellion in 1963.
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Le récit
The Congo became independent from Belgium on June 30, 1960, but independence was followed almost immediately by violent attacks against Belgians, the flight of many Belgian residents, and the unilateral dispatch of Belgian troops. The intervention was presented as illegal because the Congo was an independent state free from Belgian rule. Patrice Lumumba appealed to the United Nations, which sent nearly 10,000 troops to restore order and prevent wider foreign intervention.
The United Nations refused to attack Katanga and its leader Moise Tshombe. Lumumba therefore sought assistance from the Soviet Union, which supplied military equipment for an attempted attack on Katanga. After the attack failed, President Kasavubu dismissed Lumumba and appointed Colonel Joseph Mobutu as prime minister. Lumumba then established a rival government in Stanleyville, in the eastern Congo.
During the first six months of 1961, four authorities claimed leadership of the country: Mobutu’s government in Léopoldville, Lumumba’s group in Stanleyville, Tshombe’s government in Elisabethville, and a breakaway administration in Kasai led by King Albert Kalonji. The Soviet Union supported Lumumba and Kalonji. The crisis ended with the Katanga rebellion being brought to an end in 1963, although political instability continued.
XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
Central Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Congo Independence Crisis was a period of political fragmentation, foreign intervention, armed conflict, and institutional breakdown that followed independence from Belgium in 1960. Rival authorities emerged in Léopoldville, Stanleyville, Katanga, and Kasai, while the United Nations, Soviet Union, Belgium, and the United States became involved. The crisis included the Katanga secession, the dismissal and assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and the eventual suppression of the Katanga rebellion in 1963.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Congo became independent from Belgium on June 30, 1960, but independence was followed almost immediately by violent attacks against Belgians, the flight of many Belgian residents, and the unilateral dispatch of Belgian troops. The intervention was presented as illegal because the Congo was an independent state free from Belgian rule. Patrice Lumumba appealed to the United Nations, which sent nearly 10,000 troops to restore order and prevent wider foreign intervention.
The United Nations refused to attack Katanga and its leader Moise Tshombe. Lumumba therefore sought assistance from the Soviet Union, which supplied military equipment for an attempted attack on Katanga. After the attack failed, President Kasavubu dismissed Lumumba and appointed Colonel Joseph Mobutu as prime minister. Lumumba then established a rival government in Stanleyville, in the eastern Congo.
During the first six months of 1961, four authorities claimed leadership of the country: Mobutu’s government in Léopoldville, Lumumba’s group in Stanleyville, Tshombe’s government in Elisabethville, and a breakaway administration in Kasai led by King Albert Kalonji. The Soviet Union supported Lumumba and Kalonji. The crisis ended with the Katanga rebellion being brought to an end in 1963, although political instability continued.