Today in History: Patrice Lumumba
Sunday, February 15, 2009
USSR commemorative stamp
A riot breaks out as U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson addresses the United Nations General Assembly February 15, 1961, speaking on the death of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
Lumumba was the first prime minister of the Republic of the Congo after the nation's independence from Belgium. His time in the position was short as he was removed from office and assassinated not long after. In his address, Stevenson scolds the protesters and defends the U.S., saying that it was doing everything it could to keep the Cold War out of Africa.
Thanks to WNYC Archivist Andy Lanset
Comments [1]
the death of lumumba gave way to the rise of mobutu with the help of the United States, not sure if lumumba would have been a great leader but he may have been better than mobutu who was simply a monster
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