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110-464: Residence in the area is relatively new; in the 1970s, it became home to a small number of upper and middle-class business executives, politicians and other relatively affluent people. However, many of the extravagant compounds commissioned remain incomplete due to the drastic economic decline that characterized the latter portion of the Mobutu era . Mont Ngafula is home to several notable landmarks, including

220-411: A diplomatic incident between the two countries. Belgian media reaction to the address marked a dramatic shift in the press' coverage of him towards a more negative tone. International observers thought the speech unwise, ungrateful and tactless. The confrontational attitude taken by Lumumba appeared to confirm Belgian and American suspicions that Lumumba was a dangerous radical. When interviewed about

330-411: A "messenger of peace". He left Zaire four days later on 6 May shortly after 9 people were trampled to death trying to attend mass. In 1981, despite slow progress, Zaire launched an economic reform to revive its economy in order to keep up its rescheduled payment on the country's tremendous debt of $ 4.4 billion, which had recorded a small rate of economic growth in the last three quarters of 1980. During

440-504: A "truly national revolution, essentially pragmatic", meant "the repudiation of both capitalism and communism ". Thus, "neither right nor left" became one of the legitimising slogans of the regime, along with "authenticity". In the 1970s and 1980s, Mobutu's government relied on a selected pool of technocrats, often referred to as the "nomenklatura", from which the Head of State drew, and periodically rotated, competent individuals. They comprised

550-634: A basis for political alignment, he outlawed such ethnic associations as the Association of Lulua Brothers (Association des Lulua Frères), which had been organised in Kasai in 1953 in reaction to the growing political and economic influence in Kasai of the rival Luba people , and Liboke lya Bangala (literally, "a bundle of Bangala"), an association formed in the 1950s to represent the interests of Lingala speakers in large cities. It helped Mobutu that his ethnic affiliation

660-502: A change to the schedule, Joseph Kasongo , the President of the Chamber of Deputies who was presiding over the ceremonies, invited Lumumba to give an address as Lumumba had requested him to do so. The invitation came as a surprise to the audience, who had not expected Lumumba, as Prime Minister, to take any part in the ceremony. Lumumba had seen a copy of Kasa-Vubu's speech and concluded it

770-570: A compromise merger of the two governments into the High Council of Republic–Parliament of Transition (HCR–PT) in 1994, with Mobutu as head of state and Kengo wa Dondo as prime minister. Although presidential and legislative elections were scheduled repeatedly over the next 2 years, they never took place. By 1996, tensions from the neighbouring Rwandan Civil War and genocide had spilled over to Zaire (see History of Rwanda ). Rwandan Hutu militia forces ( Interahamwe ), who had fled Rwanda following

880-565: A feature indicative of the region's soil composition. Climatically, Mont Ngafula falls within the AW4 climate category according to the Köppen classification , signifying a tropical humid climate. The region experiences a pronounced dry season from May to August or June to September, while the rainy season spans from late September to late May, lasting approximately eight months. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1483.5 mm, with November being

990-778: A major expansion of state control of civil society . It meant, to begin with, the incorporation of youth groups and worker organisations into the matrix of the MPR. In July 1967, the Political Bureau announced the creation of the Youth of the Popular Revolutionary Movement (Jeunesse du Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution—JMPR), following the launching a month earlier of the National Union of Zairian Workers (Union Nationale des Travailleurs Zaïrois—UNTZA), which brought together into

1100-509: A more conciliatory tone. The speech itself has since been praised for its use of political rhetoric , and is considered a landmark moment in the independence of the Congo. It has also been cited as a contributary factor to the subsequent Congo Crisis and in Lumumba's murder in 1961. Since its delivery, the speech has been widely reprinted and has been depicted in paintings and film. Colonial rule in

1210-407: A single framework, thereby automatically extending the role of the party to all administrative organs at the central and provincial levels, as well as to the trade unions , youth movements , and student organisations . Three years after changing the country's name to Zaire, Mobutu promulgated a new constitution that consolidated his hold on the country. Every five years (seven years after 1978),

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1320-521: A single list of MPR candidates was returned to the National Assembly, with official figures showing near-unanimous support. All citizens of Zaire automatically became members of the MPR at birth. For all intents and purposes, this gave the president of the MPR—Mobutu—complete political control over the country. Translating the concept of "the nation politically organised" into reality implied

1430-515: A single organisational framework three preexisting trade unions. Ostensibly, the aim of the merger, in the terms of the Manifesto of N'Sele, was to transform the role of trade unions from "being merely a force of confrontation" into "an organ of support for government policy", thus providing "a communication link between the working class and the state". Similarly, the JMPR was to act as a major link between

1540-460: A smaller group, also settled in the area alongside the Teke. Mont Ngafula transitioned from a rural village to an official annexed zone under the decree-law of 13 October 1959, which outlined the organization of cities and communes. Articles 117 to 123 of this decree formalized its detachment from Kasangulu Territory , to which it previously belonged, and its annexation to the city of Kinshasa. This marked

1650-491: A striking resemblance to its colonial antecedent, except that from July 1972 provinces were called regions. With the January 1973 reform, another major step was taken in the direction of further centralisation. The aim, in essence, was to operate a complete fusion of political and administrative hierarchies by making the head of each administrative unit the president of the local party committee. Furthermore, another consequence of

1760-572: A suburban area. The name Mont Ngafula is derived from two elements: " Mont ", meaning hill, and " Ngafula ", the name of the village's chief, or Kapita. Prior to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's independence on 30 June 1960 , the region experienced significant immigration from the Teke people , primarily from the southwestern regions of what is now the Republic of Congo . The Lari people , although

1870-550: A third of Congolese popular opinion, Van Reybrouck accused Lumumba's claim to speak for all Congolese people "divisive" and questioned whether it was appropriate given the context: "Lumumba's address contained more of a look back than a look forward, more rage than hope, more rancour than magnanimity, and therefore more rebellion than statesmanship". He also compared it to the Communist Julien Lahaut 's republican heckling of Baudouin's coronation in 1950. Like Lumumba, Lahaut

1980-483: A toast to Baudouin. The King, and much of the Belgian delegation, returned to Brussels on 1 July. He did not come back to the Congo until June 1970. The majority international reaction was extremely critical of Lumumba. Instead of directly reproducing the speech, most publications paraphrased it in negative terms. Lumumba's attack on colonialism was especially interpreted as an attack on Belgium itself and nearly provoked

2090-549: A useful buffer between rival colonial powers, Leopold achieved international recognition for a personal colony, the Congo Free State , in 1885. By the turn of the century, however, the atrocities committed by the Free State officials against indigenous Congolese and the ruthless system of economic extraction had led to intense diplomatic pressure on Belgium to take official control of the country, which it did in 1908, creating

2200-587: The Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), was a united front organisation dedicated to achieving independence "within a reasonable" time and was led by, among others, Patrice Lumumba . The MNC's main rival was the Alliance des Bakongo (ABAKO), led by Joseph Kasa-Vubu , who advocated a more radical ideology than the MNC, based around calls for immediate independence and the promotion of regional identity. In

2310-455: The Bank of Zaire in the final stage of Mobutu's government. His progress was fairly typical of the rotational pattern established by Mobutu, who retained the most sensitive ministerial portfolios (such as Defense) for himself. Zaire was divided into 8 regions with its capital Kinshasa . In 1988, the province of Kivu was split into three regions. They were renamed into provinces in 1997. The zaïre

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2420-479: The Belgian Congo . Belgian rule in the Congo was based around the "colonial trinity" ( trinité coloniale ) of state , missionary and private company interests. The privileging of Belgian commercial interests meant that large amounts of capital flowed into the Congo and that individual regions became specialised . On many occasions, the interests of the government and private enterprise became closely tied and

2530-477: The Faculty of Agronomic and Veterinary Science is the most significant research center for agricultural and veterinary technical education. Lake Ma-Vallée, Joli Camp Site, Mission de Kimwenza , Lola ya Bonobo and Petites Chutes de la Lukaya are the region's most prominent and significant tourist destinations. The Mont Ngafula is geographically bordered by Makala commune to the north, Kongo Central Province to

2640-664: The Kimbanguist Church , and the Roman Catholic Church . Nationalisation of the universities of Kinshasa and Kisangani , coupled with Mobutu's insistence on banning all Christian names and establishing JMPR sections in all seminaries, soon brought the Roman Catholic Church and the state into conflict. Not until 1975, and after considerable pressure from the Vatican , did the regime agree to tone down its attacks on

2750-548: The Loyola University of Congo , the antiquated Catholic mission Sainte Marie de Kimwenza , the DRC's second-largest hospital Hôpital du Cinquantenaire de Kinshasa . It also houses Kimbondo Pediatric Hospital and the cultural and religious center Mater Dei . The Mont Ngafula municipal building is strategically located at Mobutu Avenue. Lycée Kimwenza and Elisabeth International Bilingual School are regional prominent schools, while

2860-515: The Manifesto of N'sele , which was issued from the president's rural residence at N'sele, 60 km further up the Congo River from Kinshasa . In May 1967, it was made public. Nationalism, revolution, and authenticity were identified as the major themes of what came to be known as " Mobutism ". Nationalism implied the achievement of economic and political independence. Revolution , described as

2970-686: The Ministry of the Interior finalized its status by including it among the 24 officially recognized communes of Kinshasa. This Democratic Republic of the Congo location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Zaire Other major events Zaire , officially the Republic of Zaire , was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa , it was, by area,

3080-529: The Safari Club . The Battle of Kolwezi , fought in May 1978, resulted in an airborne operation in an aim of rescuing Zairian, Belgian and French miners held as hostages by pro-Communist Katangan guerrillas. Pope John Paul II made a papal trip to Zaire on 2 May 1980, on the centenary of Catholic evangelization. During his tour, he greeted over a million people, making him the first pontiff to visit Africa as

3190-613: The Union of Mobutist Democrats and the MPR- Fait privé . Several of these groups continued to use Zaire's symbols and invoke its traditions. In 2024, opposition politician Christian Malanga led a coup attempt against the Congolese government in the name of his self-proclaimed "New Zaire", raising the old flag of Zaire in Kinshasa. The coup attempt was defeated, and Malanga was killed. The country

3300-876: The first time , however, Mobutu assumed the presidency, rather than remaining behind the scenes. From 1965, Mobutu dominated the political life of the country, restructuring the state on more than one occasion, and claiming the title of "Father of the Nation". He announced the renaming of the country as the Republic of Zaire on 27 October 1971. When, under the authenticité policy of the early 1970s, Zairians were obliged to adopt "authentic" names, Mobutu dropped Joseph-Désiré and officially changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga , or, more commonly, Mobutu Sésé Seko, roughly meaning "the all-conquering warrior, who goes from triumph to triumph". In retrospective justification of his 1965 seizure of power , Mobutu later summed up

3410-528: The 18th century and Congo was the preferred English name in 19th-century literature, although references to Zahir or Zaire as the name used by the local population (i.e. derived from Portuguese usage) remained common. In 1965, as in 1960 , the division of power in Congo-Léopoldville (a former Belgian colony ) between President and Parliament led to a stalemate and threatened the country's stability. Joseph-Désiré Mobutu again seized power. Unlike

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3520-504: The 1980s, Zaire remained a one-party state. Although Mobutu maintained control during this period, opposition parties, most notably the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social—UDPS), were active. Mobutu's attempts to quell these groups drew significant international criticism. As the Cold War came to a close, internal and external pressures on Mobutu increased. In late 1989 and early 1990, Mobutu

3630-516: The AFDL, and marched unopposed into Kinshasa three days later. On 21 May, Kabila officially reverted the name of the country to the Democratic Republic of the Congo . After the collapse of Zaire, its legacy was claimed and partially continued by various factions which emerged from Mobutu's former supporter and loyalist network. These factions were headed by former "barons" of the regime as well as Mobutu's family members, and included political parties such as

3740-449: The Congo began in the late 19th century. King Leopold II of Belgium, frustrated by Belgium's lack of international power and prestige, attempted to persuade the Belgian government to support colonial expansion around the then-largely unvisited Congo Basin . The Belgian government's ambivalence about the idea led Leopold to eventually create the colony on his own account. With support from a number of Western countries, who viewed Leopold as

3850-644: The Congo the following year. Mobutu died less than four months later, on September 7, 1997, while in exile in Morocco . The country's name, Zaïre , was derived from the name of the Congo River , sometimes called Zaire in Portuguese , which in turn was derived from the Kikongo word nzere or nzadi ('river that swallows all rivers'). The use of Congo seems to have replaced Zaire gradually in English usage during

3960-466: The Congo would become "the pride of Africa" and an example to the Pan-African movement . Lumumba called upon other states, particularly Belgium, to support the Congo to establish mutually beneficial relations between the "two equal and independent countries". He also appealed to the Congolese to abandon internecine tribal conflict. Concluding, Lumumba appealed to all the Congolese to make sacrifices for

4070-554: The Executive Council and led the full spectrum of Ministries, Departments or, as governmental terminology shifted, Commissariats. Among these individuals were internationally respected appointees such as Djamboleka Lona Okitongono who was named Secretary of Finance, under Citizen Namwisi (Minister of Finance), and later became President of OGEDEP, the National Debt Management Office. Djamboleka became Governor of

4180-505: The Lac Ma Vallée area, with the woody vegetation in these zones remaining largely natural, although the influence of human activity is evident through the presence of exotic species like Terminalia superba , Eucalyptus , Senna siamea , and Millettia laurentii . Aquatic and semi-aquatic plants dominate the wetlands , with species such as Echinochloa , Vossia cuspidata , Cyperus , Nymphaea , and Eichhornia thriving in

4290-438: The MPR elected a president who was simultaneously nominated as the only candidate for president of the republic; he was confirmed in office via a referendum. Under this system, Mobutu was reelected in 1977 and 1984 by implausibly high margins, claiming a unanimous or near-unanimous "yes" vote. The MPR was defined as the country's "single institution," and its president was vested with "plentitude of power exercise." Every five years,

4400-595: The Revolution . Zaire was established following Mobutu's seizure of power in a military coup in 1965, after five years of political upheaval following independence from Belgium known as the Congo Crisis . Zaire had a strongly centralist constitution , and foreign assets were nationalized . The period is sometimes referred to as the Second Congolese Republic . A wider campaign of Authenticité , ridding

4510-463: The Roman Catholic Church and return some of its control of the school system to the church. Meanwhile, in line with a December 1971 law, which allowed the state to dissolve "any church or sect that compromises or threatens to compromise public order", scores of unrecognised religious sects were dissolved and their leaders jailed. Mobutu was careful also to suppress all institutions that could mobilise ethnic loyalties. Avowedly opposed to ethnicity as

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4620-634: The Tutsi militias erupted in rebellion against Mobutu, triggering the First Congo War . The Tutsi militia was soon joined by various opposition groups and supported by several countries, including Rwanda and Uganda. This coalition, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila , became known as the Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo-Zaïre ( AFDL ). The AFDL, now seeking the broader goal of ousting Mobutu, made significant military gains in early 1997, and by

4730-558: The aftermath of rioting in the capital Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa) in 1959, the independence of the Congo was agreed to be granted on 30 June 1960 and a constitution ( loi fondamentale ) was written, creating a semi-presidential constitution . Kasa-Vubu was proclaimed President, and Lumumba Prime Minister. The speech was given as part of the official ceremony held at the Palais de la Nation in Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa) marking

4840-616: The area. Mont Ngafula is bounded by two significant rivers: the Lukaya River to the south and the Ndjili River to the east. Along the riverbanks, particularly between Kinsuka and the mouth of the Inkisi River , there are gallery forests and seasonally flooded woodlands . In certain areas, such as Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, patches of dense, evergreen humid forests persist. Similar dense forest formations are found near Kimwenza school and

4950-675: The ascension of an RPF -led government, had been using Hutu refugee camps in eastern Zaire as bases for incursion against Rwanda. These Hutu militia forces soon allied with the Zairian armed forces (FAZ) to launch a campaign against Congolese ethnic Tutsis in eastern Zaire, known as the Banyamulenge . In turn, these Zairian Tutsis formed a militia to defend themselves against attacks. When the Zairian government began to escalate its massacres in November 1996,

5060-502: The audience at the Palais de la Nation and broadcast by radio across the country. It was also broadcast live in Belgium by the state broadcaster, RTBF . After its delivery, the ceremonies were halted. The Belgian delegation found the oration deeply insulting; the king promptly exited the room after its delivery and Joseph Mobutu reported that other diplomats had tears in their eyes. Lumumba

5170-453: The celebrations, assuring him that Lumumba would clarify his intent in further remarks. After the break, Lumumba was persuaded by the outgoing Belgian resident , Walter Ganshof van der Meersch , to give a second speech which attempted to strike a more conciliatory tone between the two countries. In his second speech, Lumumba praised Baudouin and stated that "I would not wish my feelings to be wrongly interpreted". After Lumumba's second speech,

5280-403: The central government. The president had the power to issue autonomous regulations on matters other than those pertaining to the domain of law, without prejudice to other provisions of the constitution. Under certain conditions, the president was empowered to govern by executive order, which carried the force of law. The doctrinal foundation was disclosed shortly after its birth, in the form of

5390-418: The ceremony "represent a microcosm of the relations between Africans and Europeans" in early post-colonial Africa, with each representing a different stance towards the others. Political scientist Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja hailed the speech as a "classic of African nationalism" and praised for providing a response to the "patronizing" speech given by Baudouin or as an example of speaking the truth to power. It

5500-561: The commercial banks towards recovery and rehabilitation of Zaire's economy". Blumenthal stated that there was "no chance" that creditors would ever recover their loans. Yet the IMF and the World Bank continued to lend money that was either embezzled, stolen, or "wasted on elephant projects". "Structural adjustment programmes" implemented as a condition of IMF loans cut support for health care, education, and infrastructure. The concept of authenticity

5610-424: The commune are recognized as decentralized administrative entities, each endowed with legal personality, whereas neighborhoods within them function as administrative subdivisions devoid of legal personality or autonomous representation (Article II, Ordinance Law No. 82-006). Mont Ngafula is administratively subdivided into 20 neighborhoods: Historically, Mont Ngafula was a large village inhabited by Humbu people in

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5720-505: The conversions are as follows: In addition, the adoption of Zairian, as opposed to Western or Christian , names in 1972 and the abandonment of Western dress in favour of the wearing of the abacost were subsequently promoted as expressions of authenticity. Congolese Independence Speech Congolese: The Speech at the Ceremony of the Proclamation of the Congo's Independence

5830-454: The country a new constitution and a single party. The new constitution was submitted to popular referendum in June 1967 and approved by 98 per cent of those voting. It provided that executive powers be centralised in the president, who was to be head of state, head of government, commander in chief of the armed forces and the police, and in charge of foreign policy. But the most far-reaching change

5940-428: The country of the influences from the colonial era of the Belgian Congo , was also launched under Mobutu's direction. Weakened by the termination of American support after the end of the Cold War , Mobutu was forced to declare a new republic in 1990 to cope with demands for change. By the time of its downfall, Zaire was characterised by widespread cronyism , corruption and economic mismanagement . Zaire collapsed in

6050-673: The economic situation began to decline, and by 1979, the purchasing power was only 4% of that in 1960. Starting in 1976 the IMF provided stabilizing loans to his regime. Much of this money was embezzled by Mobutu and his circle. According to the 1982 report by the IMF's envoy Erwin Blumenthal , it was "alarmingly clear that the corruptive system in Zaire with all its wicked and ugly manifestations, its mismanagement and fraud will destroy all endeavors of international institutions, of friendly governments, and of

6160-815: The end of Belgian colonial rule in the country. The official programme for the Independence Day celebrations began with a Te Deum at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-du-Congo . The service began at 9:00 am, after which delegates returned to the Palais de la Nation which had been the residency of the Belgian Governor-General of the Congo. Some leading Congolese musicians, notably Joseph Kabaselleh and his band, Le Grand Kallé et l'African Jazz , performed specially-written songs commemorating independence there until 11:00 am. These included Indépendance Cha Cha , one of Kabaselleh's best-known works. After this,

6270-529: The end of colonial rule in the Congo as the culmination of the Belgian " civilising mission " and spoke of the close relations he hoped would be maintained between the two countries. The thousands of Congolese listening via loudspeakers outside the Palais were infuriated. Following the end of the speech Kasa-Vubu, as president, gave a short and uncontroversial address thanking the King for his attendance and for his best wishes. Both speeches were applauded vigorously. In

6380-492: The fact that Lumumba was inexperienced—and overly provocative—in comparison with Kasa-Vubu's measured and diplomatic approach. Members of Lumumba's own party and Kanza praised the speech itself but believed that the venue in which it had been delivered was inappropriate. The European residents of Katanga Province were particularly angered by it. In Parliament, Albert Kalonji , with the support of other deputies, filed an interpellation against Lumumba, requesting that he explain

6490-581: The first stage in Mont Ngafula's integration into Kinshasa's urban structure. By 10 April 1967, the annexed area was granted a special status as a suburban commune through Ordinance Law No. 67-117, which further solidified its political and administrative significance. On 20 January 1968, Mont Ngafula was elevated to the status of an urban commune by Presidential Ordinance No. 008-24, which officially recognized Mont Ngafula as one of Kinshasa's urban communes. A year later, on 23 January 1969, Decree No. 69-0042 from

6600-423: The future of the Congo. Lumumba finally called for Congolese people to respect the rights of non-indigenous settlers in the country, and warned that if they breached Congolese laws they would be exiled. The speech finishes with the observation that "the Congo's independence is a decisive step towards the liberation of the whole African continent" and the exclamations "Long live independence and African unity! Long live

6710-460: The incident, Eyskens said "this speech caused a lot of disappointment" but pointed to Lumumba's subsequent conciliatory remarks with pleasure. Other observers, including U.S. Ambassador Clare H. Timberlake and UN diplomat Ralph Bunche , thought the second speech demonstrated that the prime minister was two-faced . Lumumba, for his part, was greatly annoyed by the Belgian hostility to his address and thought it served as additional proof that Belgium

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6820-506: The independent and sovereign Congo!" The speech was originally delivered in the French language . The speech has been praised for its use of political rhetoric . In particular, the speech has been cited as exemplifying the three functions of rhetoric; by the way it was framed within the independence proceeding, its deliberative function and oratorical vibrancy. Others have argued that the dynamics between Lumumba, Kasa-Vubu and Baudouin during

6930-456: The introduction in 1973 of "obligatory civic work" (locally known as Salongo after the Lingala term for work), in the form of one afternoon a week of compulsory labor on agricultural and development projects. Officially described as a revolutionary attempt to return to the values of communalism and solidarity inherent in the traditional society, Salongo was intended to mobilise the population into

7040-517: The late 1990s, amid the destabilization of the eastern parts of the country in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and growing ethnic violence. In 1996, Laurent-Désiré Kabila , the head of the AFDL militia, led a popular rebellion against Mobutu. With rebel forces making gains westward, Mobutu fled the country, leaving Kabila's forces in charge. The country's name was restored to the Democratic Republic of

7150-452: The long-promised Sovereign National Conference was staged, encompassing over 2,000 representatives from various political parties. The conference gave itself a legislative mandate and elected Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya as its chairman, along with Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba , leader of the UDPS, as prime minister. By the end of the year Mobutu had created a rival government with its own prime minister. The ensuing stalemate produced

7260-432: The marshy depressions. On the plateaus and hills, tall grasses such as Hyparrhenia diplandra , Loudetia simplex , and Megathyrsus maximus are common, though they are often affected by seasonal bushfires during the dry period. The soil in Mont Ngafula is of the AC profile, with a sandy texture and low clay content. The upper organic horizon is distinct from the underlying parent rock due to its darker coloration,

7370-434: The middle of 1997 had almost completely overrun the country. The only thing that seemed to slow the AFDL forces down was the country's ramshackle infrastructure; irregularly used dirt paths and river ports were all that connected some areas to the outside world. Following failed peace talks between Mobutu and Kabila, Mobutu fled into exile in Morocco on 17 May. Kabila named himself president, consolidated power around himself and

7480-424: The most bitterly resented features of the colonial state, obligatory civic work contributed in no small way to the erosion of legitimacy suffered by the Mobutist state. In 1977 and 1978, Katangan rebels based in Angola launched two invasions, Shaba I and Shaba II , into the Katanga Province (renamed "Shaba" in 1972). The rebels were driven out with military assistance from the Western Bloc , particularly from

7590-442: The new government. As a result of the threat to its expatriates, Belgium deployed troops to the country and, amid mounting violence, several regions of the Congo, notably Katanga, seceded and declared their own independence, starting five-years of violence and political unrest known as the Congo Crisis . While the speech was filmed during its delivery, the film of the speech has only survived as fragments and in some sections only

7700-452: The official act of independence was signed by Lumumba and the Belgian Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens , as well as by the foreign ministers of both countries, bringing the official ceremonies to an end. The delegates then visited a performance of Congolese folklore at the Roi Baudouin Stadium before heading to an evening reception. At this event, Lumumba gave a further conciliatory speech the same evening, written for him by Eyskens, and drank

7810-427: The official speeches—the main component of the day's festivities—began. In the audience were dignitaries from Belgium, the Congo, and various other countries as well as the international press . King Baudouin , representing Belgium, gave the first speech in which he praised the "genius" of his ancestor, King Leopold II , who began the colonisation of the Congo on his own initiative in the 1880s. Baudouin depicted

7920-411: The original audio survives. Transcriptions of the speech were later published in multiple print editions, some of which were altered as propaganda to show Lumumba in a better light after his death in 1961. Today, the speech forms an important part of Congolese popular memory, particularly among "Lumumbists" who claim to represent Lumumba's ideological position in modern Congolese politics . The scene

8030-426: The performance of collective work "with enthusiasm and without constraint". In reality, the conspicuous lack of popular enthusiasm for Salongo led to widespread resistance and foot dragging (causing many local administrators to look the other way). Although failure to comply carried penalties of one month to six months in jail, by the late 1970s most Zairians shirked their Salongo obligations. By resuscitating one of

8140-530: The personal suffering of the nationalists before enumerating the suffering of ordinary Congolese people under colonialism , through forced labour , systematic racial discrimination , land seizure, wealth disparity and physical maltreatment at the hand of the colonial state. Lumumba states that these forms of suffering would be ended by independence. Through its democratic institutions, Congolese self-government would deliver social justice and fair wages. Racial discrimination and repression would be abolished and

8250-465: The principle of a multi-party system with elections and a constitution. As details of a reform package were delayed, soldiers began looting Kinshasa in September 1991 to protest their unpaid wages. Two thousand French and Belgian troops, some of whom were flown in on U.S. Air Force planes, arrived to evacuate the 20,000 endangered foreign nationals in Kinshasa. In 1992, after previous similar attempts,

8360-533: The programs and decisions of the president. The president also was to have the power to appoint and dismiss the governors of the provinces and the judges of all courts, including those of the Supreme Court of Justice. The bicameral parliament was replaced by a unicameral legislative body called the Legislative Council . Governors of provinces were no longer elected by provincial assemblies but appointed by

8470-487: The provocative nature of his oration. He also wired an apology to Brussels, stating that the Prime Minister's statements did not represent Congolese opinion. Lumumba's address was also acclaimed by figures within the international Pan-African and Black Power movements, including Malcolm X . The speech may have further heightened racial violence between native Congolese and white settlers, who were already distrustful of

8580-469: The radio across the world, denounced colonialism and was interpreted as an affront to Belgium and Baudouin personally. While it was well-received within the Congo, it was widely condemned internationally as unnecessarily confrontational and for showing ingratitude at a time when Belgium had granted independence to the state. The speech nearly provoked a diplomatic incident between the Congo and Belgium, and Lumumba later gave further speeches attempting to adopt

8690-546: The record of the First Republic as one of "chaos, disorder, negligence, and incompetence". Rejection of the legacy of the First Republic went far beyond rhetoric. In the first two years of its existence, the new regime turned to the urgent tasks of political reconstruction and consolidation. Creating a new basis of legitimacy for the state, in the form of a single party, came next in Mobutu's order of priority. A third imperative

8800-455: The reform was to severely curtail the power of traditional authorities at the local level. Hereditary claims to authority would no longer be recognised; instead, all chiefs were to be appointed and controlled by the state via the administrative hierarchy. By then, the process of centralisation had theoretically eliminated all preexisting centres of local autonomy. The analogy with the colonial state becomes even more compelling when coupled with

8910-521: The regime beyond the most superficial level. The trend toward co-optation of key social sectors continued in subsequent years. Women's associations were eventually brought under the control of the party, as was the press , and in December 1971 Mobutu proceeded to emasculate the power of the churches. From then on, only three churches were recognised: the Church of Christ in Zaire (L'Église du Christ au Zaïre),

9020-549: The residence, Kanza and Mandi briefly explained their alterations to Lumumba. Greatly pleased with the result, Lumumba stated that he would read some parts of the speech verbatim, then improvise to respond to the atmosphere in the room as he saw fit. He made his own alterations to the script during the speeches given by Baudouin and Kasa-Vubu. "Although this independence of the Congo is being proclaimed today by agreement with Belgium, an amicable country, with which we are on equal terms, no Congolese will ever forget that independence

9130-428: The south, the communes of Lemba and Kisenso to the east, and Selembao commune to the west. The commune's terrain is characterized by a series of hills and deeply incised valleys, often transected by rivers or affected by erosion, creating a landscape that poses challenges for the development of urban infrastructure. However, the humid valleys provide fertile grounds for agricultural activities, which are widespread in

9240-472: The speech as they could, replacing some individual words with less inflammatory language and crossing out several full paragraphs deemed too difficult to temper. Lumumba then left in a motorcade for his official residence to rendezvous with the rest of his government. Kanza and Mandi followed in the second car, making additional revisions to the speech. These were so extensive that both feared Lumumba would be unable to clearly read his remarks. Upon their arrival at

9350-575: The speech was the result of Lumumba's growing feeling of emasculation . Others have pointed to the influence of Belgian Socialist delegates and representatives of the Guinean President, Ahmed Sékou Touré , who had a strongly Marxist ideology, all of whom hoped a public and international denunciation of colonialism would help them politically. Historian David Van Reybrouck praised the speech as "memorable", but argued that it damaged Lumumba's own legacy. Since Lumumba and his party represented only

9460-566: The state helped companies break strikes and remove other barriers imposed by the indigenous population. The country was split into nesting, hierarchically organised administrative subdivisions, and run uniformly according to a set "native policy" ( politique indigène )—in contrast to the British and the French, who generally favoured the system of indirect rule whereby traditional leaders were retained in positions of authority under colonial oversight. There

9570-535: The student population and the state. In reality, the government was attempting to bring under its control those sectors where opposition to the regime might be centred. By appointing key labour and youth leaders to the MPR Political Bureau, the regime hoped to harness syndical and student forces to the machinery of the state. Nevertheless, as has been pointed out by numerous observers, there is little evidence that co-optation succeeded in mobilising support for

9680-422: The text, and make it acceptable – a bit less explosive?" Less than an hour before the independence ceremony a Belgian officer arrived to request that Lumumba depart for Parliament. Kasongo was disturbed by what Lumumba planned to say and told Kanza as he left, "I'm counting on you to do your best to tone down that speech." As Lumumba dressed, Kanza and one of the secretaries, André Mandi , read through as much of

9790-503: The third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria , and the 11th-largest country in the world from 1965 to 1997. With a population of over 23 million, Zaire was the most populous Francophone country in Africa . Zaire played a central role during the Cold War . The country was a one-party totalitarian military dictatorship , run by Mobutu Sese Seko and his Popular Movement of

9900-407: The wettest month, averaging 268.1 mm of precipitation. Temperatures remain moderate throughout the year, with an annual average below 25°C. The hottest month is March, with an average of 24.74°C, while the coolest is July, averaging 22.06°C. Relative humidity averages 79%, peaking at 84% in November and May, and dropping to a low of 71% in September. Pursuant to statutory provisions, both the city and

10010-471: Was a short political speech given by Patrice Lumumba on 30 June 1960 at the ceremonies marking the independence of the Republic of Congo (the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo ) from Belgium . It is best known for its outspoken criticism of colonialism . Lumumba, the first Congolese Prime Minister, gave the address during the official independence commemorations at the Palais de la Nation in Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa). The ceremony

10120-581: Was also a high degree of racial segregation . Large numbers of whites that moved to the Congo after the end of World War II came from across the social spectrum, but were nonetheless always treated as superior to blacks. An African nationalist movement developed in the Belgian Congo during the 1950s, primarily among the black middle-class évolués . The movement was divided into a number of parties and groups which were broadly divided on ethnic and geographical lines and opposed to one another. The largest,

10230-498: Was also praised as a public exposé of traits of colonialism glossed over during the independence ceremonies. Political scientist Jean-Claude Willame argued that the speech was the result of Lumumba's growing frustration with the process of independence which he believed might represent a purely nominal change in government with no real effects. Lumumba blamed Kasa-Vubu and his colleagues for failing to publicly oppose this situation. Gender historian Karen Bouwer therefore argued that

10340-510: Was blurred in the public mind. Nevertheless, as dissatisfaction arose, ethnic tensions surfaced again. Running parallel to the efforts of the state to control all autonomous sources of power, important administrative reforms were introduced in 1967 and 1973 to strengthen the hand of the central authorities in the provinces. The central objective of the 1967 reform was to abolish provincial governments and replace them with state functionaries appointed by Kinshasa . The principle of centralisation

10450-478: Was confirmed in office by an implausible margin of over 10,131,000 votes against only 157 who voted "no." At parliamentary elections held two weeks later, voters were presented with a single MPR list that was approved with over 99 per cent support. The president served as the head of state of Zaïre whose role was to appoint and dismiss cabinet members and determine their areas of responsibility. The ministers, as heads of their respective departments, were to execute

10560-509: Was curious, given that the name Congo , which referred both to the river Congo and to the mediaeval Kongo Empire , was fundamentally authentic to pre-colonial African roots, while Zaire is in fact a Portuguese corruption of another African word, Nzadi ("river", by Nzadi o Nzere, "the river that swallows all the other rivers", another name of the Congo river). General Mobutu became Mobutu Sésé Seko and forced all his citizens to adopt African names and many cities were also renamed. Some of

10670-477: Was derived from the MPR's professed doctrine of "authentic Zairian nationalism and condemnation of regionalism and tribalism". Mobutu defined it as being conscious of one's own personality and one's own values and of being at home in one's culture. In line with the dictates of authenticity, the name of the country was changed to the Republic of Zaire on 27 October 1971, and that of the armed forces to Zairian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Zaïroises—FAZ). This decision

10780-404: Was further extended to districts and territories, each headed by administrators appointed by the central government. The only units of government that still retained a fair measure of autonomy—but not for long—were the so-called local collectivities, i.e. chiefdoms and sectors (the latter incorporating several chiefdoms). The unitary, centralised state system thus legislated into existence bore

10890-474: Was governed by the Popular Movement of the Revolution as a one-party state as the only legally permitted party in the country, though the Congo had effectively been a one-party state since the MPR's formation. Despite the constitution nominally allowing for the existence of two parties, the MPR was the only party that was allowed to nominate a candidate for the 1 November 1970 presidential election . Mobutu

11000-477: Was insufficient. Kasongo and Thomas Kanza , a member of Lumumba's government , had been requested to visit the prime minister at his private house on the morning of 30 June before the start of the ceremonies to look over an early draft of Lumumba's planned speech. Also present were two secretaries of state and two Belgians. (One of the latter may have been the pacifist Jean Van Lierde . ) Lumumba asked Kanza, "Will you work out here with these others here to tidy up

11110-456: Was intended to mark the harmonious end of Belgian rule and was attended by both Congolese and Belgian dignitaries, including King Baudouin . Lumumba's speech, which was itself unscheduled, was in large part a response to Baudouin's speech which argued that the end of colonial rule in the Congo had been depicted as the culmination of the Belgian " civilising mission " begun by Leopold II in the Congo Free State . Lumumba's speech, broadcast live on

11220-402: Was introduced to replace the franc as the new national currency. 100 makuta (singular likuta) equaled one zaïre. The likuta was also divided into 100 sengi. However this unit was worth very little, so the smallest coin was for 10 sengi. The currency and the cities named above had actually already been renamed between 1966 and 1971. While the country began to stabilize after Mobutu took control,

11330-519: Was painted by Congolese artist Tshibumba Kanda-Matulu in his distinctive cartoon -like style. The result, entitled Le 30 juni 1960, Zaïre indépendant and painted between 1970-1973, hangs in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The speech itself was dramatized in the 2000 film, Lumumba , directed by Raoul Peck in which Eriq Ebouaney played the role of Lumumba. It was backed by a specially composed score, entitled Le Discours ("The Speech"), by

11440-408: Was subsequently murdered after he had "claimed all the attention" at the public event. "... on an occasion, when the calibre of Congolese leadership was under the microscope ... Lumumba's speech soured the taste of many. The Congo has need of all the unselfish friends she can attract, and equally needs to keep those she already possesses." The speech was applauded by Congolese delegates in

11550-536: Was surprised by the Belgian reaction, telling a delegate that his remarks were consistent with previous statements he had given. A short inspection of local sites was arranged with Kasa-Vubu and lunch was served to cover the delay and an official lunch was held by the Congo River . Kanza tried to mollify the situation by presenting the speech to others in a moderate fashion while Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Justin Marie Bomboko convinced Baudouin not to leave

11660-452: Was the creation of the Popular Movement of the Revolution (Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution—MPR) on 17 April 1967, marking the emergence of "the nation politically organised". Rather than government institutions being the emanation of the state , the state was henceforth defined as the emanation of the party. Thus, in October 1967, party and administrative responsibilities were merged into

11770-434: Was to expand the reach of the state in the social and political realms, a process that began in 1970 and culminated in the adoption of a new constitution in 1974. By 1976, however, this effort had begun to generate its own inner contradictions, thus paving the way for the resurrection of a Bula Matari ("the breaker of rocks") system of repression and brutality. By 1967, Mobutu had consolidated his rule and proceeded to give

11880-463: Was undermining him. Between September 1960 and January 1961, partly at the instigation of the two countries, Lumumba was deposed from power, arrested and executed with the complicity of both the Congolese and Katangese governments. Copies of Lumumba's speech were circulated around the Congo. The address initially received a mixed reception within the country. In some quarters it was widely supported. However, some believed that it merely highlighted

11990-473: Was weakened by a series of domestic protests, by heightened international criticism of his regime's human rights practices, by a faltering economy, and by government corruption, most notably his massive embezzlement of government funds for personal use. In June 1989, Mobutu visited Washington, D.C. , where he was the first African head of state to be invited for a state meeting with newly elected U.S. President George H. W. Bush . In May 1990, Mobutu agreed to

12100-421: Was won in struggle, a persevering and inspired struggle carried on from day to day, a struggle, in which we were undaunted by privation or suffering and stinted neither strength nor blood." The speech begins with Lumumba addressing his speech to the Congolese people and praising independence as the culmination of the struggle of the nationalist movement , rather than the result of Belgian concessions. He outlines

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