Laurent Mbariko
Encyclopedia
Laurent Jean-Pierre Mbariko (January 19, 1925 – December 30, 1972), from the Kwilu
region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was a prominent Congolese politician
who played a significant role in Congo's independence from Belgium
.
After elementary schooling in Catholic 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(1).
GOVERNMENT WORK
At the first free elections in 1959 he was elected Senator on the Parti Solidaire Africain
(PSA) list headed by Antoine Gizenga
(2)(3). 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 (4) He also participated in the government of national unity led by Cyrille Adoula
, who entered office August 2, 1961. He held the post of Vice-Minister (Secretaire d'etat) for Planning, Development, and International Cooperation (5)(6).
He is known for his strong personality and profound savvy in international affairs. President Joseph Kasavubu 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
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 untimely death left the Kwilu without a valuable representative for many years. His integrity and wisdom have since been revered in tribal music.
REFERENCES
(1) Scouting in Belgian Congo (1922–1960)-French
-Samuel Tilman
http://www.flwi.ugent.be/btng-rbhc/pdf/BTNG-RBHC,%2028,%201998,%203-4,%20pp%20363-404.pdf
(2) Parti Solidaire Africain (P.S.A) Documents 1959-1960
-H.Weiss, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(3) Congo 1959
-J.Gerard-Libois
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(4) Congo 1960 (3 volumes)
-J.Gerard-Libois, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(5) Congo 1961
-J.Gerard-Libois, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(6) Congo 1962
-J.Gerard-Libois, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
Kwilu
Kwilu, also known as the House of Kwilu , was a kanda or royal lineage of the Kingdom of Kongo.-Origins:Prior to the rise fo the Kwilu kanda, the Kilukeni kanda or House of Lukeni had ruled Kongo since its inception around the end of the 14th century. After the death of King Henrique I, power...
region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was a prominent Congolese politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who played a significant role in Congo's independence from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
After elementary schooling in Catholic missionary schools, he followed a fast-track training for teachers. After teaching in the Kwilu, he moved to Leopoldville
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, 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(1).
GOVERNMENT WORK
At the first free elections in 1959 he was elected Senator on the Parti Solidaire Africain
Parti Solidaire Africain
The Parti Solidaire Africain was a political party active in the Belgian Congo and the subsequent Republic of the Congo ....
(PSA) list headed by Antoine Gizenga
Antoine Gizenga
Antoine Gizenga is a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from December 30, 2006 to 10 October 2008...
(2)(3). 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
Joseph Iléo
Joseph Iléo , later called Sombo Amba Ileo, was a politician in the Republic of the Congo and was prime minister for two periods.-Before independence:...
government on September 5, 1960 as Vice Minister for Defense (4) He also participated in the government of national unity led by Cyrille Adoula
Cyrille Adoula
Cyrille Adoula , was a Congolese politician. Adoula was the premier of the Republic of the Congo, from 2 August 1961 until 30 June 1964.Adoula was born in Léopoldville...
, who entered office August 2, 1961. He held the post of Vice-Minister (Secretaire d'etat) for Planning, Development, and International Cooperation (5)(6).
He is known for his strong personality and profound savvy in international affairs. President Joseph Kasavubu often sent him in numerous state missions. He represented the Congo in the Euro-African parliamentary conference in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France (June 19–24, 1961).
DEATH
When Mobutu
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
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 untimely death left the Kwilu without a valuable representative for many years. His integrity and wisdom have since been revered in tribal music.
REFERENCES
(1) Scouting in Belgian Congo (1922–1960)-French
-Samuel Tilman
http://www.flwi.ugent.be/btng-rbhc/pdf/BTNG-RBHC,%2028,%201998,%203-4,%20pp%20363-404.pdf
(2) Parti Solidaire Africain (P.S.A) Documents 1959-1960
-H.Weiss, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(3) Congo 1959
-J.Gerard-Libois
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(4) Congo 1960 (3 volumes)
-J.Gerard-Libois, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(5) Congo 1961
-J.Gerard-Libois, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue
(6) Congo 1962
-J.Gerard-Libois, B.Verhaegen
www.crisp.be/catalogue