Laurent Jean-Pierre Mbariko (January 19, 1925 – December 30, 1972), from the Kwilu region of the

Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

, was a prominent Congolese

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

who played a significant role in Congo's independence from

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. After elementary schooling in

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missionary schools, he followed a fast-track training for teachers. After teaching in the Kwilu, he moved to Leopoldville, the capital, in the late 1940s. He became a leader in the scouting movement, and later became involved in the struggle for independence. His name is among those Congolese leaders who compiled key documents laying out the aspiration for independence from Belgium in the late 1950s.

Government work

At the first free elections in 1959 he was elected Senator on the

Parti Solidaire Africain The Parti Solidaire Africain () or PSA was a political party active in the Belgian Congo and subsequently in the Republic of the Congo after the country received its independence. The PSA was formed in the aftermath of a series of riots in L ...

(PSA) list headed by

Antoine Gizenga Antoine Gizenga (5 October 1925 – 24 February 2019) was a Congolese (DRC) politician who was the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 30 December 2006 to 10 October 2008. He was the Secretary-General of the Unified Lumum ...

. He later joined the Parti National du Peuple (PNP) party. He once served as Vice-President in the Senate. He was included in the Ileo government on September 5, 1960, as Vice Minister for Defense. He also participated in the government of national unity led by

Cyrille Adoula Cyrille Adoula (13 September 1921 – 24 May 1978) was a Congolese trade unionist and politician. He was the prime minister of the Republic of the Congo, from 2 August 1961 until 30 June 1964. Early life and career Cyrille Adoula was born t ...

, who entered office August 2, 1961. He held the post of Secretary of State for Planning, Development, and International Cooperation.Congo 1962 – J. Gerard-Libois, B. Verhaegen He is known for his strong personality and savvy in international affairs. President

Joseph Kasavubu Joseph Kasa-Vubu, alternatively Joseph Kasavubu, ( – 24 March 1969) was a Congolese politician who served as the first President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo) from 1960 until 1965. A member of the Kong ...

often sent him in numerous state missions. He represented the Congo in the Euro-African parliamentary conference in Strasbourg, France (June 19–24, 1961).

Death

When

Mobutu Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga (; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997) was a Congolese politician and military officer who was the president of Zaire from 1965 to 1997 (known as the Democratic Republic o ...

came to power through a coup in 1965, Mbariko was offered but declined government assignments. It was his way of protesting against the undemocratic process. He exiled himself to his native Kwilu where he died of illness on December 30, 1972. His integrity and wisdom have since been revered in tribal music.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbariko, Laurent 1925 births 1972 deaths People from Kwilu Province Belgian Congo people People of the Congo Crisis Parti Solidaire Africain politicians Government ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo