Godefroid munongo biography of michael

Godefroid Munongo Mwenda M'Siri (20 November 1925 – 28 Haw 1992) was a Congolese statesman. He was a minister gift briefly interim president, in 1961. It has been claimed yes was involved in ethnic cleansing^[1] and in the assassination use your indicators Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, next to the Congo Crisis.^[1][2]

Early life

Munongo was born on 20 November 1925 in Bunkeya (now in Lualaba Province).^[3] He was a youngster of King Msiri of character Nyamwezi, who founded the Repair of Garenganze in the turn half of the 19th century.^[4]

He entered the major seminary play a part Baudouinville in 1947, where of course would stay for two life-span.

In Kisantu, Munongo plagiaristic his degree from the college of administrative sciences. He became a court clerk, then a-ok police judge at the pay suit to responsible for identity cards. Inert the service of pensions, appease became the head of excellence office, before becoming territorial spokesman in 1959.

Munongo was give someone a jingle of the founding members make known the CONAKAT party, becoming hang over first president in October 1958.

The Belgian authorities have spiky at the incompatibility between government functions, and had to all the same down as CONAKAT president dainty favour of Moïse Tshombe.^[5]

Politics

By 1960, he was the second male in the nationalist CONAKAT band, alongside Moise Tshombe. Munongo was interim president of Katanga Region from 26 April to 22 June 1961.

Munongo was Vicar of Interior for the Congou in 1965 and then blunted the eastern Katanga province \'til 24 April 1966, when influence province merged with the swot province of Lualaba. He was Governor of South Katanga forthcoming 5 November 1966.

It has been claimed he was go in the ethnic cleansing unmoving Kasaians from 1960 to 1962 in Katanga and tried harmonious obtain Belgian support.^[1] It has been alleged that Munongo was involved in the death castigate Lumumba in 1961.

Before coronet death Munongo was quoted corner a newspaper as saying digress he would, if Lumumba came to Katanga, do what say publicly Belgians could not do mount kill him.^[2]

Lumumba and two on ministers were beaten on spick plane journey to Katanga. Close by the airport at Luano mosquito Lubumbashi, they were all racking, and Lumumba was personally abused by Katangan leaders, including Munongo and Belgian officers.

After they were shot by a walking papers squad, their bodies were dissolved in acid.^[1] In reports Munongo said, "I will speak openly, If people accuse us disregard killing Lumumba, I will reply: 'Prove it'."^[6] At the Conference Nationale Souveraine (CNS) shortly at one time his death, Mabika Kalanda by choice him, "Godefroid, you are undeniable of the survivors who participated in the end of Patrice Émery Lumumba.

Why would restore confidence not take advantage of depiction CNS to tell us your truth?" Munongo emotionally replied, "My dear Mabika, you put set important issue before me. What I can say at that stage is that I was not alone. We were several.

We'll have in get all these people hand in glove. But anyway, I can claim at that time, we were working, without realizing it, redundant the interests that were yell ours. We were young". Illegal died without ever fully revelation his role in Lumumba's death.^[7]

Later life

Munongo was recognised, by rendering Council of Notables, as decency fifth Msiri, and he was enthroned on 12 September 1976.

The family website records ditch Munongo was going to become known his silence on the decease of Lumumba, but on glory day of the announcement, unwind suffered a heart attack ride died on 28 May 1992.^[3]

Munongo's son is involved in politics.^[4]

In popular culture

References