Parti Solidaire Africain
Encyclopedia
The Parti Solidaire Africain (African Solidarity Party or PSA) was a political party
active in the Belgian Congo
and the subsequent Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
.
The party was formed in the aftermath of a series of riots in Leopoldville
in 1958 which prompted Baudouin of Belgium to announce that independence for the colony was his long term aim. It was formally established on 1st February 1959. The new party's President-General was Antoine Gizenga
whilst Cléophas Kamitatu served as Provincial President.
The PSA quickly became one of the best organised of the parties that emerged following the king's edict, and it established a strong base amongst the rural communities of the Kwango
and Kwilu District
s of the country. Along with the Mouvement National Congolais
the PSA was unusual amongst the new parties in that it did not identify with one ethnic group but rather preached socialism
.
After the election of 1960
the party was part of the inaugural post-independence coalition government of Patrice Lumumba
. However the 1961 elimination of Lumumba saw the PSA go into opposition and the rebellion that broke out in Kwilu during the Congo Crisis
was the work of a wing of the PSA under the Maoist
Pierre Mulele
. Effectively sidelined from mainstream politics, the PSA disappeared completely after the emergence of Mobutu Sese Seko
in 1965.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
active in the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
and the subsequent Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
The Republic of the Congo was an independent republic established following the independence granted to the former colony of the Belgian Congo in 1960...
.
The party was formed in the aftermath of a series of riots in Leopoldville
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
in 1958 which prompted Baudouin of Belgium to announce that independence for the colony was his long term aim. It was formally established on 1st February 1959. The new party's President-General was 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...
whilst Cléophas Kamitatu served as Provincial President.
The PSA quickly became one of the best organised of the parties that emerged following the king's edict, and it established a strong base amongst the rural communities of the Kwango
Kwango District
Kwango District is a district located in the Bandundu province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .It contains the Kasongo-Lunda, Kahemba, Feshi, Popokabaka and Kenge territories.The main town is Kenge...
and Kwilu District
Kwilu District
Kwilu District is a district located in the Bandundu province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo....
s of the country. Along with the Mouvement National Congolais
Mouvement National Congolais
The Mouvement National Congolais is a political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.-History:The party was founded in 1958 as a nationalist, pro-independence group in the Belgian Congo...
the PSA was unusual amongst the new parties in that it did not identify with one ethnic group but rather preached socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
After the election of 1960
Belgian Congo general election, 1960
General elections were held in the Belgian Congo on 22 May 1960, in order to create a government to rule the country following independence, scheduled for 30 June. The 137-seat Chamber of Representatives was elected by men over the age of 21...
the party was part of the inaugural post-independence coalition government of Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
. However the 1961 elimination of Lumumba saw the PSA go into opposition and the rebellion that broke out in Kwilu during the Congo Crisis
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
was the work of a wing of the PSA under the Maoist
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
Pierre Mulele
Pierre Mulele
Pierre Mulele was a Congolese revolutionary who was briefly minister of education in Patrice Lumumba's cabinet. He was member of the Bapende ethnic group...
. Effectively sidelined from mainstream politics, the PSA disappeared completely after the emergence of Mobutu Sese Seko
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...
in 1965.