The Goal of the PLDI is to make our findings about the death of Patrice Lumumba available to the public so that they can learn about potential deeper involvment from other countries.
We at the PLDI believe that there is more to the death of Patrice Lumumba than just his capture by Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga.
Lumumba's killing did nothing to improve the conditions of the Congo. After Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga came to power in 1965, and already hurting Congo plummeted and was hit with disease and war. This was caused by Mobutu Sese Seko's rule as a ruthless dictator for 3 decades in which he took money sent as aid along with governement funds for his own personal use. While the people of Congo suffered, Mobutu Sese Seko became a billionaire with luxury residences throughout the world (Gabriel Almond). Was he so blind to his country's suffering that he would rather live abroad than to focus on improving the living conditions in the Congo? The Congo could have been great but due to these unfortunate events it is instead unstable and riddled with conflict (The Economist, 2002).
William Sundvor 2022