page_title: Lumumba Government
section_title: General Elections of 1960
hierarchical_section_title: Lumumba Government / Background / General Elections of 1960
caption_attribution_description: English: Patrice Lumumba waving to his supporters in Stanleyville while celebrating the Congo's forthcoming independence
context_page_description: The Lumumba Government, also known as the Lumumba Ministry or Lumumba Cabinet, was the first set of ministers, ministers of state, and secretaries of state that governed the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the leadership of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba from 24 June until 12 September 1960. Weak and divided, its tenure was dominated by a widespread mutiny in the army and two secessions. The government inherited many problems from the era of the Belgian Congo, a tightly-administered colony which for most of its existence had few political freedoms. In the late 1950s an independence movement suddenly emerged, led by figures such as Lumumba and Joseph Kasa-Vubu. Fears that the situation might turn violent led the Belgian government to grant the Congo independence on 30 June 1960. A provisional constitution, providing for a parliamentary regime with a responsible government and prime minister and an irresponsible head of state, was instituted, and general elections were hastily organised. Lumumba's nationalist party, the Mouvement National Congolais, won a plurality of the seats in Parliament.
context_section_description: Even though the date for independence had been established at the Round Table Conference, there was still substantial uncertainty throughout the Congo as to which faction would come to dominate politics in the new government. This caused deep anxiety among most of the electorate. The official electoral campaign began on 11 May, marred by confusion and violence. With the notable exceptions of CONAKAT, the PNP, and the Parti de l'Unité Nationale (PUNA), most parties' rhetoric was anti-colonial in focus. Frequent attacks on the colonial administration by candidates led to confusion among segments of the electorate, which were given the impression that all forms of government—except welfare services—were to be eliminated after independence. The MNC-L and the PNP were the only parties to launch significant national campaigns.
caption: Lumumba waves to his supporters in Stanleyville
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