The College of Commissioners-General (French: ''Collège des Commissaires-generaux'') was a body of university graduates that acted as the third government of the
Democratic Republic of the 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 ...
(then
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
) under the leadership of
Albert Ndele
Albert Ndele Bamu (born 15 August 1930) is a Congolese politician and banker. He served as chairman of the College of Commissioners-General that governed the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) for two weeks while Justin Marie Bomboko returned ...
from 20 September 1960 to 3 October 1960
and
Justin Marie Bomboko
Justin-Marie Bomboko Lokumba Is Elenge (22 September 1928 – 10 April 2014), was a Congolese politician and statesman. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Congo. He served as leader of the Congolese government as chairman of the Coll ...
from 3 October 1960 until 9 February 1961.
Background
On 24 June 1960 the
Lumumba Government
The Lumumba Government (french: Gouvernement Lumumba), also known as the Lumumba Ministry or Lumumba Cabinet, was the first set of ministers, ministers of state, and secretaries of state that governed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Re ...
was installed as the first indigenous government of the new
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
. Independence followed on 30 June 1960, but governing became chaotic amid
an army mutiny, disorder, and Belgian intervention.
Throughout August 1960 President
Joseph Kasa-Vubu
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 ...
became increasingly bothered by Prime Minister
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba (; 2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961) was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as the Republic of the Congo) from June u ...
's growing authoritarianism, the collapse in administration, and the enlarging prospects of civil war. On 5 September Kasa-Vubu announced the revocation of Lumumba's ministerial mandate, along with the dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister
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 ...
, three other ministers, and two secretaries of state over the radio. He stated that the President of the Senate,
Joseph Iléo
Joseph Iléo (15 September 1921 – 19 September 1994), subsequently Zairianised as Sombo Amba Iléo, was a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was prime minister for two periods.
Early life
Joseph Iléo was born on 15 ...
, would form
a new government. After Lumumba heard of the firing he held heated discussions with his ministers and made three broadcasts, defending his government and declaring Kasa-Vubu to be deposed.
Two days later the Chamber of Deputies convened to discuss Kasa-Vubu's dismissal order. The Chamber voted to annul both Kasa-Vubu's and Lumumba's declarations of dismissal, 60 to 19. The following day the Senate delivered the
Lumumba Government
The Lumumba Government (french: Gouvernement Lumumba), also known as the Lumumba Ministry or Lumumba Cabinet, was the first set of ministers, ministers of state, and secretaries of state that governed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Re ...
a vote of confidence, 49 to zero with seven abstentions. According to Article 51, Parliament was granted the "exclusive privilege" to interpret the constitution. In cases of doubt and controversy, the Congolese were originally supposed to appeal constitutional questions to the Belgian
Conseil d'État. With the rupture of relations in July this was no longer possible, so no authoritative interpretation or mediation was available to bring a legal resolution to the dispute.
Mobutu's coup
On 14 September Colonel
Joseph-Desiré Mobutu announced over the radio that he was
launching a 'peaceful revolution' to break the political impasse and therefore neutralising the President, Lumumba's and Iléo's respective governments, and Parliament until 31 December. He stated that "
technicians
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skill and technique, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles.
Specialisation
The term technician covers many different speciali ...
" would run the administration while the politicians sorted out their differences. In a subsequent press conference he clarified that Congolese university graduates would be asked to form a government and further declared that all Eastern Bloc countries should close their embassies. Lumumba and Kasa-Vubu were both surprised by the coup.
Organisation and establishment
On 20 September Mobutu announced the formation of the College of Commissioners-General under the chairmanship of
Justin Marie Bomboko
Justin-Marie Bomboko Lokumba Is Elenge (22 September 1928 – 10 April 2014), was a Congolese politician and statesman. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Congo. He served as leader of the Congolese government as chairman of the Coll ...
. Soldiers expelled the remaining politicians from their offices. Of the Commissioners-General,
Albert Ndele
Albert Ndele Bamu (born 15 August 1930) is a Congolese politician and banker. He served as chairman of the College of Commissioners-General that governed the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) for two weeks while Justin Marie Bomboko returned ...
, Joseph Mbeka, and Martin Ngwete had all been ''chef de cabinet'' to a minister in the Lumumba Government. Damien Kandolo, ''chef de cabinet'' to Lumumba, was also made a commissioner. Both
Thomas Kanza
Thomas Rudolphe Kanza or Nsenga Kanza (10 October 1933 – 25 October 2004) was a Congolese diplomat. He was one of the first Congolese nationals to graduate from a university. From 1960 to 1962 he served as the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( ...
and Andrè Mandi, members of Lumumba's government, were invited to join the College. Though the latter attended the College's early sessions, both became disturbed by the body's inclination towards Kasa-Vubu and summarily refused to participate in the administration. Their abstention allowed the government's anti-Lumumba slant to worsen without restraint. Meanwhile, Lumumba's Minister of Youth and Sports,
Maurice Mpolo
Maurice Mpolo (12 September 1928 – 17 January 1961) was a Congolese politician who served as Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of the Congo in 1960. He briefly led the Congolese army that July. He was executed alongside Prime Minister ...
attempted to undermine the College and rivaled Mobutu for control of the army.
Composition
The full list of commissioners was printed in the ''Moniteur Congolais'' on 10 October. The following all served during the College's existence:
Commissioners-general
# Commissioner-General for Foreign Affairs and External Commerce and President of the College
Justin Bomboko
Justin-Marie Bomboko Lokumba Is Elenge (22 September 1928 – 10 April 2014), was a Congolese politician and statesman. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Congo. He served as leader of the Congolese government as chairman of the Coll ...
(
Free University of Brussels University of Brussels may refer to several institutions in Brussels, Belgium: Current institutions
* Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), a French-speaking university established as a separate entity in 1970
*Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), a D ...
)
# Commissioner-General for Finance and Monetary Questions and Vice-President of the College
Albert Ndele
Albert Ndele Bamu (born 15 August 1930) is a Congolese politician and banker. He served as chairman of the College of Commissioners-General that governed the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) for two weeks while Justin Marie Bomboko returned ...
(
Catholic University of Leuven
University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to:
* Old University of Leuven (1425–1797)
* State University of Leuven (1817–1835)
* Catholic University of ...
)
# Commissioner-General for Labour and Social Problems
Charles Bokonga (Catholic University of Leuven)
# Commissioner-General for National Education and Youth and Sports and Spokesman of the College
Mario Cardoso (Catholic University of Leuven)
# Commissioner-General for Public Function
Valentin Bindo Albi (Free University of Brussels)
# Commissioner-General for National Defence
Ferdinand Kazadi (
Lovanium University
Lovanium University (french: Université Lovanium) was a Catholic Jesuit university in Kinshasa in the Belgian Congo. The university was established in 1954 on the Kimwenza plateau, near Kinshasa. The university continued to function after indepe ...
)
# Commissioner-General for Agriculture and the Middle Class
Pierre Lebughe (Lovanium University)
# Commissioner-General for Justice
Marcel Lihau
Marcel Antoine Lihau or Ebua Libana la Molengo Lihau (29 September 1931 – 9April 1999) was a Congolese jurist, law professor and politician who served as the inaugural First President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Congo from 1968 u ...
(Catholic University of Leuven)
# Commissioner-General for Public Works
Joseph Masanga (Lovanium University)
# Commissioner-General for Economic Co-ordination and Planning
Joseph Mbeka (Lovanium University)
# Commissioner-General for Information and Spokesman of the College
Albert Bolela (Catholic University of Leuven)
# Commissioner-General for Social Affairs
Albert Mpase (Catholic University of Leuven)
# Commissioner-General for Telecommunications
Aubert Mukendi (
University of Liège
The University of Liège (french: Université de Liège), or ULiège, is a major public university of the French Community of Belgium based in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium. Its official language is French. As of 2020, ULiège is ranked in the 301 ...
)
# Commissioner-General for Interior
José Nussbaumer (Catholic University of Leuven)
# Commissioner-General for Public Health
Marcel Tshibamba (Lovanium University)
Commissioners
# Commissioner for Social Affairs
Albert Atunda
# Commissioner for National Education and Youth and Sports
Cléophas Bizala
# Commissioner for National Education
Honoré Waku
# Commissioner for Labour and Social Problems
André Bo-Boliko
# Commissioner for Interior
Damien Kondolo
# Commissioner for Interior
Jonas Mukamba
# Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and External Commerce
Ernest Kashemwa
# Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and External Commerce
Evariste Loliki
# Commissioner for Economic Co-ordination and Planning
Julien Kasongo
# Commissioner for Information
Pascal Kapella
# Commissioner for Information
Zépherin Konde
# Commissioner for Public Function
François Kungula
# Commissioner for Public Function
Félicien Lukusa
# Commissioner for Finance
Paul Mushiete
# Commissioner for Agriculture
Claude Ngondo
# Commissioner for the Middle Class
Jean-Marie Ngyesse François
# Commissioner for Transport and Communications
Gilbert Pongo
Gilbert-Pierre Pongo (22 April 1927 – 20 February 1961) was a Congolese politician and intelligence officer who briefly served as an inspector of the '' Sûreté Nationale'' of the fledgling Democratic Republic of the Congo and as a communication ...
# Commissioner for Justice
Etienne Tshisekedi
# Commissioner for National Defence
Nestor Watum
# Commissioner for Public Works
Henri Takizala
# Commissioner for Public Works
Joseph Posho
# Commissioner for Public Health
Martin Ngwete
Tenure
On 11 October Kasa-Vubu issued a "constitutional decree-law" officiating the establishment of the College of Commissioners-General, asserting his right as Head of State to appoint and dismiss its members, adjourning Parliament indefinitely, and conferring all legislative authority prescribed to Parliament by the Loi Fondementale to the College. In time, the College would come to bring about the restoration of some order to the administration that had been lost during the Lumumba Government's tenure. Lumumba frequently attacked the body's credibility. As the end of the year approached Mobutu backed away from his promise of restoring democratic processes after December and postponed the return to normal governance indefinitely.
In an attempt to indicate a reorientation towards legality, the College of Commissioners was dissolved by Kasa-Vubu on 9 February 1961 and replaced by a new cabinet under Iléo.
Aftermath
Bomboko returned to his post as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Notes
Citations
References
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{{refend
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1960 establishments in Africa
1961 disestablishments in Africa