Joseph Mbuyi
Congolese politician
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Joseph Mbuyi (12 August 1929 – 1960/1961) was a Congolese politician. He served as the Minister of Middle Classes of the Republic of the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1960.
Joseph Mbuyi | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Middle Classes of the Republic of the Congo | |
| In office 24 June 1960 – September 1960 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1929 Mikalaye, Luluabourg, Belgian Congo |
| Died | 1960/1961 |
| Party | Mouvement National Congolais-Lumumba |
Biography
Joseph Mbuyi was born on 12 August 1929 in Mikalaye, Luluabourg, Belgian Congo.[1]
Mbuyi joined the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), and when the party split he joined Patrice Lumumba's wing and became the secretary of its national committee.[2] He initially attended the 1960 Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference in Brussels as a delegate for the MNC-Lumumba. He was replaced and left in early February before the conference ended and returned to Léopoldville.[1] He served as Minister of Middle Classes in Lumumba's government, which was officially invested by Parliament on 24 June 1960.[3] The government planned on eventually making him the Congo's first ambassador to the United States.[4] On 22 July Lumumba left the Congo for New York City. Mbuyi accompanied him as part of a special economic delegation.[5] Belgian Ambassador to the Congo Jean van den Bosch established a confidential line of contact with Mbuyi, since he was regarded as more politically moderate than some other members of the government.[6] Throughout August Lumumba increasingly withdrew from his full cabinet and instead consulted officials and ministers he trusted, including Mbuyi.[7]
On 5 September President Joseph Kasa-Vubu announced the dismissal of Lumumba, along with several of his ministers and declared that a new government would be formed.[8] A political deadlock ensued, and on 14 September, Colonel Joseph-Désiré Mobutu launched a coup to install his own government.[9] Lumumba then began planning to relocate to Stanleyville in the east to reestablish his government.[10] Mbuyi attempted to go but was killed in the Charlesville region[11] in 1960 or 1961.[12]