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MAURICE MPOLO : A FIERCE HERO OF DRC INDEPENDANCE

By Reagan Baseya Mbungu updated on June 27, 2024

While the world remembers Patrice Lumumba as one of the emblematic figures in the struggle for the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo, it’s important not to forget his fervent collaborators in this cause: Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito. In this article, we retrace Maurice Mpolo’s career. Indeed, his commitment and dedication alongside Lumumba and Okito left an indelible mark on the history of the DRC that is little known, and helped free the entire Congolese nation from the colonial grip of Leopold II, who had reigned since the 19th century, in 1885. 

Premises

Maurice Mpolo was born on March 4, 1928 in Inongo, in the former Province of Léopoldville, to Mpolo Édouard and Bokako Tecle. Originally from Lac Mai-Ndombe, formerly Lac Léopold II, he came from a Christian Catholic family and was married to Catherine Wale. They had four children, two girls and two boys, of whom Jacqueline and Maurice Mpolo, the best known to the public, have been striving for years to preserve their father’s legacy.

He attended primary school at the Ecole Normale d’Inongo before spending two years at the Petit Séminaire de BOKORO. He then continued his studies at the École Moyenne Sainte-Anne in Léopoldville.

Before embarking on his professional career, Maurice Mpolo learned to type and took correspondence courses in law. He also interned with Maître Gentil, where he developed an interest in the law and strengthened his critical faculties.

In the course of his professional life, Maurice Mpolo held various positions, including at Chanic, at the Zongo hydroelectric dam, and as a court defender at the “cité Indigène” near Place Cabu, now known as the Stade des Martyrs.

In 1957, while working as a judicial defender, Maurice Mpolo was imprisoned in Makala for defending a fellow Congolese unjustly accused of drinking red wine.

He then went on to serve the nation in various public services, notably as an accounting officer in the police force and in the national security identification service. After leaving the police force, he turned to public administration, working successively at Immoaf and Forces du Bas-Congo, now Kongo Central.

After joining the civil service, Maurice Mpolo was posted to his home town of Inongo. 

Political turning point

A major political turning point in Maurice Mpolo’s career came when he decided to leave his position in the public administration to devote himself fully to politics.

In 1958, at a meeting in Leopoldville, Maurice Mpolo met Patrice Emery Lumumba. A relationship of mutual respect and esteem quickly developed between the two men, characterized by their courage and determination in the struggle for DRC independence. Maurice Mpolo became a trusted collaborator and staunch defender of Patrice Lumumba.

His commitment to the independence of the DRC was exemplary, standing shoulder to shoulder with his compatriots in the struggle against colonial oppression. His determination and courage were pillars of resistance against foreign interference and the quest for freedom for his country.

In 1960, following his participation in the two-part Brussels Round Table between Congolese political representatives and traditional chiefs on the one hand, and Belgian public and economic leaders on the other, an event that resulted in the adoption of sixteen resolutions on the future of the Belgian Congo, including a major consensus on the date of independence of the future state, set for June 30, 1960, and the organization of its institutions, Maurice Mpolo travelled to Conakry, Guinea, to attend a conference on Pan-Africanism. He was also part of the delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba to the United States of America on July 22, 1960.

Despise beyond limits

In his interview with the newspaper Le Phare published on July 15, 1996, and I quote:ʺ Lumumba’s major mistake was to give command of the army to Mobutu instead of Mpoloʺ.

This unusual situation was not without attracting the jealousy and hatred of certain people, particularly in Belgium and at home. But later, at the request of Prime Minister Lumumba, Maurice Mpolo gave up his military duties and was replaced in that post by Colonel Mobutu, in order to devote himself to his Ministry of Youth and Sports and to the Party.

He served as Minister of Youth and Sport in Lumumba’s first government, demonstrating his ability to handle multiple responsibilities. Indeed, in addition to his ministerial duties, Maurice Mpolo also assumed the roles of Colonel, Chief of Military Operations, then Brigadier General after the departure of General Janssens, former Commander-in-Chief of the Public Force.

Maurice Mpolo symbolise l’esprit de courage et de détermination qui a caractérisé la lutte Maurice Mpolo symbolizes the spirit of courage and determination that characterized the DRC’s struggle for independence. His legacy is a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to the ideals of freedom and justice for which he fought, and an example to follow for all Congolese and for the whole world.

As National Deputy and Provincial President of the Congolese National Movement in Kinshasa, Maurice Mpolo was renowned for his eloquence, strength of mind and outspokenness. He was appointed by his peers as spokesman for the Nationalist group in the Chamber of Representatives in Parliament, foreshadowing increasingly important political responsibilities.

A tragic end

Subsequent events reveal that Mobutu, perceived as an ally of Belgian interests, turned into a detrimental element for the country. He overthrew Lumumba’s government and ordered the arrest of Lumumba and his collaborators.

On the morning of December 3, 1960, according to the testimony of Lieutenant Nkiey, in charge of taking Maurice Mpolo to Stanleyville via Inongo, his home region in today’s Bandundu province, a tragic event took place. Arrested in Mushie on the orders of the local Territory Administrator, Jacques Ngaa Ilanga, acting under the instructions of Victor Nendaka, General Administrator of the National Security, Mpolo had to wait for Nendaka’s arrival in Mushie before being taken in charge personally.

From Mushie, Maurice Mpolo was taken to Kinshasa, then transferred successively to Camp Léopold II (Camp Kokolo), Camp Hardy in Thysville, and finally to Katanga, where he was assassinated alongside Lumumba and Okito. Their disappearance has left the nation in a state of deep questioning.

It’s important to remember that these men were visionaries, ahead of their time, seeking the necessary support to guide a country still marked by inadequate education, division and the after-effects of colonialism.

The question remains: what would Congo’s destiny have been if these three personalities had been able to bring their ideas to fruition?

A belated recognition but a continuing legacy

Despite the fact that the ideals defended by Maurice Mpolo often remain associated with the emblematic figure of Lumumba, it took many years for him and Joseph Okito to finally be decorated as “grand officers” of the Kabila-Lumumba National Order of Heroes in a moving ceremony on June 30, 2022. In the historic room where Lumumba delivered his speech on the DRC’s accession to national and international sovereignty, the portraits of Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo framed the coffin containing the relic of the first Congolese Prime Minister. In the presence of representatives of the three families, the diplomatic corps and international guests, the ceremony began with the laying of wreaths by the representatives of the countries present.

For years, the Mpolo and Okito families have fought to obtain recognition commensurate with their status as national heroes, but have only been awarded the title of “grand officier”, a title deemed inglorious in comparison with the sacrifices and deeds accomplished for the Congolese nation by these two families.

“We’re shocked, we’re stirring the knife in our hearts. It hurts us to see that three people who died for the same cause, the same ideals, ended their lives together, their blood, their lives fused, and now they want to detach them”, said Jacqueline Mpolo, Maurice Mpolo’s eldest daughter, a few years ago. She wondered why there was no place dedicated to Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo, either in Parliament or at the Palais du peuple where Okito used to sit.

The two families were not content with this partial recognition, and to this day, the Maurice Mpolo Foundation, established by his son bearing the same name, is an association that promotes the human values and key ideas that guided Maurice Mpolo’s political, social, economic and spiritual life. It provides a space where many people can find inspiration and continue to perpetuate his legacy.

As we approach the 64th anniversary of our independence, it is essential for the Congolese nation and our general history to remember Maurice Mpolo, Joseph Okito and all those who sacrificed their lives so that the DRC could enjoy its freedom and independence. Their courage and determination forged this country and continue to inspire present and future generations to pursue the fight for a better and fairer future for all Congolese.

Together, let us wish all Congolese a happy June 30th, celebrating independence and honouring the memory of the heroes who made this freedom possible.

Long live the Democratic Republic of Congo, long live Maurice Mpolo, long live freedom!



Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS