Mouvement National Congolais
Encyclopedia
The Mouvement National Congolais (English: Congolese National Movement, MNC) is a political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
group in the Belgian Congo
. The MNC was a national party with substantial support in the whole of Congo, while most other parties were based primarily on tribal
allegiances and garnered support in their respective provinces.
In 1959, as the country approached independence, the MNC was split by internal conflicts between the left-leaning Patrice Lumumba
and the moderate Albert Kalonji
. Lumumba retained control of the party (now called Mouvement National Congolais-Lumumba), while Kalonji and his followers split off to found the Mouvement National Congolais-Kalonji. Lumumba's group advocated a centralized government
, while Kalonji's proposed a more federalist
government.
Both groups competed in Congo's first parliamentary elections in June 1960, in which Lumumba's party emerged as the largest party. Lumumba formed a coalition with the more conservative
and federalist
Abako
party led by Joseph Kasavubu. Lumumba was elected Prime Minister, while Kasavubu became Congo's first President.
However, the country quickly plunged into the Congo Crisis
, facing mutinies among the soldiers and separatism
in Katanga
(led by Moise Tshombe
) and South Kasai
(led by Albert Kalonji
). In September, Lumumba and Kasavubu fell out and Kasavubu dismissed Lumumba and instead appointed Joseph Iléo
, a member of the Kalonji party as prime minister. In turn, Lumumba declared the President deposed, while Iléo failed to gain parliamentary approval. The stalemate was ended when Lumumba's aide and partisan, Colonel Joseph Mobutu arrested Lumumba, who was later (after an attempt to flee was cut shot) transported to Katanga and killed there under dubious circumstances.
MNC members remained a major players on different sides: Albert Kalonji remained in control of Kasai, in December Lumumba's deputy Antoine Gizenga
formed another rebel government at Stanleyville and in February 1961 Iléo was again appointed prime minister at Leopoldville
. In August, following protracted negotiations between all factions, Kasavubu appointed the moderate Cyrille Adoula
as prime minister and Gizenga to rejoined the central government. Relations soon broke down again and in January 1962, Gizenga was arrested. Adoula remained prime minister until 1964, when Kasavubu appointed former separatist Moise Tshombe to the post to quell another revolt in the east.
In November 1965, following another fall-out between president and prime minister, Mobutu again seized power and under regime d'exception appointed himself President. Mobutu blamed the five years of turmoil on "the politicians" and decreed: "For five years, there will be no more political party activity in the country."
This meant the end of the MNC's legal activity until 1990 when, following the end of the Cold War
and due to economic problems and domestic unrest, Mobutu agreed to lift the ban on other political parties and appointed a transitional government that would lead to promised elections.
Lumumba's heritage is also claimed by the Unified Lumumbist Party (PALU) led by Lumumba's former deputy Antoine Gizenga
, currently Prime Minister.
Another of Lumumba's sons, Guy-Patrice Lumumba
is also active in Congolese politics.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
History
The party was founded in 1958 as a nationalist, pro-independenceIndependence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
group in the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
. The MNC was a national party with substantial support in the whole of Congo, while most other parties were based primarily on tribal
Tribalism
The social structure of a tribe can vary greatly from case to case, but, due to the small size of tribes, it is always a relatively simple role structure, with few significant social distinctions between individuals....
allegiances and garnered support in their respective provinces.
In 1959, as the country approached independence, the MNC was split by internal conflicts between the left-leaning Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
and the moderate Albert Kalonji
Albert Kalonji
Albert Kalonji is a Congolese politician best known for leading the short-lived secessionist state of South Kasai during the Congo Crisis...
. Lumumba retained control of the party (now called Mouvement National Congolais-Lumumba), while Kalonji and his followers split off to found the Mouvement National Congolais-Kalonji. Lumumba's group advocated a centralized government
Centralized government
A centralized or centralised government is one in which power or legal authority is exerted or coordinated by a de facto political executive to which federal states, local authorities, and smaller units are considered subject...
, while Kalonji's proposed a more federalist
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
government.
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and federalist
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
Abako
ABAKO
ABAKO or Alliance des Bakongo was a cultural and political organization, headed by Joseph Kasa-Vubu, which emerged in the late 1950s as vocal opponent of Belgian colonial rule in what today is the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
party led by Joseph Kasavubu. Lumumba was elected Prime Minister, while Kasavubu became Congo's first President.
However, the country quickly plunged into the Congo Crisis
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
, facing mutinies among the soldiers and separatism
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
in Katanga
State of Katanga
Katanga was a breakaway state proclaimed on 11 July 1960 separating itself from the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. In revolt against the new government of Patrice Lumumba in July, Katanga declared independence under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local CONAKAT party...
(led by Moise Tshombe
Moise Tshombe
Moïse Kapenda Tshombe was a Congolese politician.- Biography :He was the son of a successful Congolese businessman and was born in Musumba, Congo. He received his education from an American missionary school and later trained as an accountant...
) and South Kasai
South Kasai
South Kasai was a secessionist region in the area of south central Republic of the Congo during the early 1960s. The region sought independence in similar circumstances to neighboring State of Katanga during the political turmoil arising from the decolonization of Belgian Congo...
(led by Albert Kalonji
Albert Kalonji
Albert Kalonji is a Congolese politician best known for leading the short-lived secessionist state of South Kasai during the Congo Crisis...
). In September, Lumumba and Kasavubu fell out and Kasavubu dismissed Lumumba and instead appointed Joseph Iléo
Joseph Iléo
Joseph Iléo , later called Sombo Amba Ileo, was a politician in the Republic of the Congo and was prime minister for two periods.-Before independence:...
, a member of the Kalonji party as prime minister. In turn, Lumumba declared the President deposed, while Iléo failed to gain parliamentary approval. The stalemate was ended when Lumumba's aide and partisan, Colonel Joseph Mobutu arrested Lumumba, who was later (after an attempt to flee was cut shot) transported to Katanga and killed there under dubious circumstances.
MNC members remained a major players on different sides: Albert Kalonji remained in control of Kasai, in December Lumumba's deputy Antoine Gizenga
Antoine Gizenga
Antoine Gizenga is a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from December 30, 2006 to 10 October 2008...
formed another rebel government at Stanleyville and in February 1961 Iléo was again appointed prime minister at Leopoldville
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
. In August, following protracted negotiations between all factions, Kasavubu appointed the moderate Cyrille Adoula
Cyrille Adoula
Cyrille Adoula , was a Congolese politician. Adoula was the premier of the Republic of the Congo, from 2 August 1961 until 30 June 1964.Adoula was born in Léopoldville...
as prime minister and Gizenga to rejoined the central government. Relations soon broke down again and in January 1962, Gizenga was arrested. Adoula remained prime minister until 1964, when Kasavubu appointed former separatist Moise Tshombe to the post to quell another revolt in the east.
In November 1965, following another fall-out between president and prime minister, Mobutu again seized power and under regime d'exception appointed himself President. Mobutu blamed the five years of turmoil on "the politicians" and decreed: "For five years, there will be no more political party activity in the country."
This meant the end of the MNC's legal activity until 1990 when, following the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and due to economic problems and domestic unrest, Mobutu agreed to lift the ban on other political parties and appointed a transitional government that would lead to promised elections.
Modern activities
The MNC-Lumumba refounded and in 1992 elected Lumumba's eldest son François as their leader.Lumumba's heritage is also claimed by the Unified Lumumbist Party (PALU) led by Lumumba's former deputy Antoine Gizenga
Antoine Gizenga
Antoine Gizenga is a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from December 30, 2006 to 10 October 2008...
, currently Prime Minister.
Another of Lumumba's sons, Guy-Patrice Lumumba
Guy-Patrice Lumumba
Guy-Patrice Lumumba, also known as Patrice Lumumba Guy, is the son of murdered Congolese Prime Minister and Pan-Africanist Patrice Émery Lumumba. His arrest in December 2005 was mentioned in the British House of Commons. He ran independently for President of Democratic Republic of the Congo in...
is also active in Congolese politics.
Prominent members
- Cyrille AdoulaCyrille AdoulaCyrille Adoula , was a Congolese politician. Adoula was the premier of the Republic of the Congo, from 2 August 1961 until 30 June 1964.Adoula was born in Léopoldville...
- Antoine GizengaAntoine GizengaAntoine Gizenga is a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from December 30, 2006 to 10 October 2008...
- Joseph IléoJoseph IléoJoseph Iléo , later called Sombo Amba Ileo, was a politician in the Republic of the Congo and was prime minister for two periods.-Before independence:...
- Albert KalonjiAlbert KalonjiAlbert Kalonji is a Congolese politician best known for leading the short-lived secessionist state of South Kasai during the Congo Crisis...
- François Lumumba
- Patrice LumumbaPatrice LumumbaPatrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
- Joseph Desirée MobutuMobutu Sese SekoMobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...