Major-General Léonard Mulamba (1928 – 12 August 1986), subsequently Zairianised as Mulamba Nyunyi wa Kadima, was a Congolese military and political leader.

Biography

Then-Colonel Mulamba was

Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...

of the Congolese National Army (ANC) from October 1964, until named

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

after the coup d'état led by

Joseph-Désiré Mobutu Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga ( ; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997), often shortened to Mobutu Sese Seko or Mobutu and also known by his initials MSS, was a Congolese politician and military officer ...

of 25 November 1965. Born in the

Kasaï region The Kasaï region (also referred to as the Greater Kasaï region, Greater Kasaï, Grand Kasaï, or simply Kasaï) is a geographic and cultural region in south-central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once a single province, it now comprises the ...

in 1930, Mulamba joined the colonial

gendarmerie A gendarmerie () is a paramilitary or military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to " men-at-arms" (). In France and so ...

known as the ''

Force Publique The ''Force Publique'' (, "Public Force"; ) was the military of the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo from 1885 to 1960. It was established after Belgian Army officers travelled to the Free State to found an armed force in the colony on L ...

'' in 1949. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major by 1960 and after independence quickly became an officer. He commanded IX battalion of gendarmes at Luluabourg in 1960. In 1962, he was assigned to command the 3rd ''Groupement'' at Stanleyville. He "gained international fame for.. defence of

Bukavu Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), lying at the extreme south-western edge of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the South Kivu P ...

and for conducting one of the most decisive battles of the 1964 north-east revolution the Simba rebellion of 1964. When Kisangani was recaptured from rebel forces in 1964 he was named military governor of the entire northeastern region." Mulamba has always enjoyed popularity with the troops under his command. Mulamba was removed from premiership by Mobutu on 26 October 1966, following pressure from army high command. ''The Historical Dictionary of the DRC'' writes that "Mobutu dismissed Mulumba and abolished the post on 26 October 1966 by citing Mulumba's lax attitude to the mutiny of the

Baka Regiment Baka, baká or BAKA may refer to: Ethnicities and languages * Baka people (Cameroon and Gabon), an African ethnic group * Baka people (Congo and South Sudan), an African ethnic group * Baka language, a dialect cluster of Cameroon and Gabon * Baka ...

in Stanleyville"E.F. Kisangani et al., Historical Dictionary of the DRC, 375. (the first of the

Stanleyville mutinies The Stanleyville mutinies, also known as the Mercenaries' mutinies, occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1966 and 1967. First mutiny Amid rumours that the ousted prime minister Moïse Tshombe was plotting a comeback from his exil ...

). Following his dismissal, Mobutu became head of government as well as head of state. He later served as ambassador to India (1967–1969), Japan (1969–1976) and Brazil (1976–1979).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mulamba, Leonard 1928 births 1986 deaths Soldiers of the Force Publique People of the Congo Crisis Democratic Republic of the Congo military personnel Minister of Defence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Prime ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to India Ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Japan Ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Brazil