Congo Crisis
July 1960
Days after winning independence from Belgium, the Republic of the Congo slid into chaos. Its mineral-rich Katanga province seceded. Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, a fiery nationalist, appealed to the UN, then the Soviets. Within six months he had been kidnapped and murdered with Belgian and CIA help. The Cold War came to Africa.
In context
Also in 1960 (7 other events on record)
- Great Chilean Earthquake · South America · Disaster
- Year of Africa · Africa · Politics
- The Pill approved · North America · Science
- Sharpeville massacre · Africa · Politics
- Kennedy elected · North America · Politics
- U-2 shot down over USSR · Central Asia · Politics
Before and after in Africa
Before and after in Politics
Era
Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.
Sources