Congo crisis

The Congo crisis was a period of intense political turmoil in the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1960. It began with a mutiny of the army and the intervention of Belgian paratroopers. A constitutional dispute between President Joseph Kasavubu and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba led to a divided government. The richest province, Katanga, declared independence, supported by Belgium, which Lumumba claimed was an attempt to reimpose colonial rule. This led Lumumba to seek Soviet aid, drawing the crisis into the Cold War. The situation fragmented the country, and Army Chief of Staff Joseph Mobutu seized power in a coup. Lumumba was captured and executed. Despite UN intervention and the eventual crushing of the Katanga secession, further rebellions and secessionist movements continued, highlighting the deep-seated instability and external influences plaguing the nation.12