On this day in 1959, Congolese residents of Stanleyville rebelled against Belgian colonizers, demanding independence after a speech by Patrice Lumumba. Police suppressed the riot, killing ~70, imposing martial law, and arresting Lumumba.

The day prior, Lumumba called for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience in a speech to the MNC congress, also ordering Congolese people to not collaborate with the Belgian colonial government and announcing that the party would not take part in the upcoming December elections.

The rebellion began on October 30th when the police arrived at the suburb of Mangoba to arrest Lumumba. The uprising was suppressed with military force, including two companies of infantry.

In total, approximately 70 people were killed in the fighting, and up to 200 were wounded. Lumumba himself was arrested by police as the government imposed martial law and banned gatherings of more than five people.

Congo would achieve independence from Belgium on June 30th, 1960, with Lumumba serving as its first Prime Minister. He was assassinated by Belgian forces and their collaborators on January 17th, 1961.

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  • blight [any]
    ·
    11 months ago

    remember the chinese weather balloon bullshit? well i accidentally did and now i'm annoyed and so you have to be too (sorry)

    • Judge_Jury [comrade/them, he/him]
      ·
      11 months ago

      Sure it:

      • Looked like a weather balloon
      • Came from where that kind of weather balloon is constantly used
      • Traveled on a path consistent with a weather balloon blown off course by the weather event happening at the time
      • Was carrying only weather balloon equipment, and
      • Had that equipment shut off to prevent ambiguity about its purpose

      But have you considered that it:

      • Somehow passed near a US military site (we have so few), and
      • Was Chinese?
    • Melonius [he/him]
      ·
      11 months ago

      On February 14, the US government announced that the latter three high-altitude objects shot down over the North America were likely private entities with no relations to China. Further analysis and debris collections were underway.[18] The four AIM-9X missiles expended for shooting down the three objects cost at least $1.5 million.[195]

      On February 17, the US and Canada suspended their search for the debris from the downed objects and the missile that missed.

      6 million of war goods lost and a missile in the ocean somewhere