Congolese Statesman. He served as the 1st President of the Republic of the Congo from June 27, 1960 to November 24, 1965. He was educated by Roman Catholic missionaries and later became a lay teacher. In 1942, he entered the civil service and attained the rank of chief clerk. He later became a leader in the Congo's growing independence movement. In 1957, he was elected mayor of the Dendale district in the first municipal elections permitted by Belgian authorities. In 1960, Congo held its first national election, but both his and Patrice Lumumba's parties couldn't form a governing coalition. They both finally decided to form a coalition with him as president and Lumumba as prime minister. His government was racked early on by an army mutiny and later he was forced by the army to fire Lumumba as prime minister. He went on to serve as president until 1965, when he was forced out by Colonel Joseph Mobutu in a coup. He later went into exile on his farm in Boma.
Congolese Statesman. He served as the 1st President of the Republic of the Congo from June 27, 1960 to November 24, 1965. He was educated by Roman Catholic missionaries and later became a lay teacher. In 1942, he entered the civil service and attained the rank of chief clerk. He later became a leader in the Congo's growing independence movement. In 1957, he was elected mayor of the Dendale district in the first municipal elections permitted by Belgian authorities. In 1960, Congo held its first national election, but both his and Patrice Lumumba's parties couldn't form a governing coalition. They both finally decided to form a coalition with him as president and Lumumba as prime minister. His government was racked early on by an army mutiny and later he was forced by the army to fire Lumumba as prime minister. He went on to serve as president until 1965, when he was forced out by Colonel Joseph Mobutu in a coup. He later went into exile on his farm in Boma.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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