1953 - Patrice Lumumba Founds the Congolese National Movement (MNC)

On June 9, 1953, in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), Patrice Lumumba took a pivotal step in African political history by initiating the framework for what would become the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC)—a party committed to uniting Congolese people across ethnic lines and demanding independence from Belgian colonial rule. While the MNC would not be formally established until 1958, this foundational moment in 1953 marked Lumumba’s shift from civil service into revolutionary politics. Unlike other factions, Lumumba’s vision rejected tribal fragmentation, emphasizing pan-Congolese unity and sovereignty. This political groundwork laid the foundation for the Congo’s eventual independence in 1960, where Lumumba would briefly serve as the country\’s first Prime Minister before his assassination. Despite his significance, this early organizing date is rarely mentioned in mainstream narratives of African liberation, making it a vital yet overlooked moment in international Black history.