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The Congo Crisis was a period of political and social upheaval in the Republic of the Congo (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) that took place from 1960 to 1964. It was sparked by a conflict over the succession of the country's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, who was deposed in a coup led by Joseph Mobutu and supported by the United States and Belgium.
The crisis began on June 30, 1960, when the Congo gained independence from Belgium. Lumumba, who had been a leading figure in the independence movement, was named prime minister and faced significant challenges in governing the newly independent country. He faced opposition from regional leaders, as well as interference from foreign powers, including the United States and Belgium, which had significant economic interests in the Congo.
In September 1960, Lumumba was arrested and imprisoned by Mobutu, who had the support of the Congolese military. Lumumba was eventually transferred to the custody of secessionist forces in the mineral-rich province of Katanga and was assassinated in January 1961.
The Congo Crisis had significant consequences for the course of history. It contributed to the Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, as the Soviet Union supported Lumumba and condemned his ousting. It also had a lasting impact on the people of the Congo, as Mobutu's authoritarian regime, which lasted until 1997, was marked by corruption and human rights abuses. The conflict also exacerbated the country's economic and political instability, which continues to have repercussions today.