Remembering The Resistor Patrice Lumumba:

On July 2nd, 1925, Patrice Lumumba was born in the village of Onalua Congo, marking the beginning of a journey that would shake colonial oppression and reshape the destiny of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Lumumba, a pivotal figure in Africa's fight against imperialism & colonialism, rose to prominence as the DRC's first democratically elected leader after Belgium's colonial rule ended in 1960.

Belgium's occupation of the Congo was marked by brutality and exploitation, where atleast 15 million Congolese were murdered under their genocidal colonial rule. The region's vast resources, including uranium crucial for the global north like the United States during the Cold War, fueled a system of exploitation that enriched Western nations while impoverishing the indigenous Congolese people.

Lumumba's ascension to power posed a direct threat to Western interests. His honourable mission for pan-African unity and determination to end colonial occupation in Africa drew immediate concern from the global North.Documents from that era reveal CIA directives to remove Lumumba, likening him to a threat comparable to Fidel Castro.

Tragically, Lumumba's life was cut short by a coup backed by the US and Belgium. He was abducted and assassinated in 1961, setting the stage for decades of instability under the oppressive regime of Colonel Joseph Mobutu, a puppet leader supported by Western nations eager to safeguard their economic interests.

Mobutu's rule epitomized neo-colonial exploitation, enriching himself while impoverishing the nation. Despite the DRC's immense mineral wealth, including coveted resources like cobalt essential for modern technologies, the Congolese people continue to suffer extreme poverty, with millions living on less than $1.90 a day.

Today, the legacy of Patrice Lumumba serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and self-determination in the DRC.

His vision of a liberated Africa, free from Western occupation and exploitation, remains unrealized as multinational corporations continue to profit from the country's resources at the expense of its people.

As the world reflects on Lumumba's life and legacy, the question of economic justice and sovereignty for the DRC and other occupied territories looms large. His memory stands as a beacon of hope for a future where the Congolese people can benefit equitably from their nation's vast natural wealth, free from the chains of the West that have plagued the region for over a century.

[G&T]