Kasa-Vubu, Joseph, approximately 1915-1969

Joseph Kasa-Vubu, alternatively Joseph Kasavubu, (c. 1915 – 24 March 1969) was a Congolese politician who served as the first President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the Republic of the Congo until 1964) from 1960 until 1965. A member of the Kongo ethnic group, Kasa-Vubu became the leader of the Bakongo Association (ABAKO) party in the 1950s and soon became a leading proponent of Congo's independence from Belgian colonial rule. He forged an unlikely coalition between his regionalist and conservative ABAKO party and Patrice Lumumba's left-wing nationalist Congolese National Movement (MNC) party, offering support in the government. In the agreement, he received support from the Lumumbists in the Senate and the National Assembly, and was elected president of the Republic in 1960 with Lumumba as prime minister. Shortly after the country's gaining of independence from Belgium on 30 June 1960, the country immediately faced a series of secessionist movements, leading to the establishment of the Katanga and South Kasai breakaway states and marking the beginning of the Congo Crisis. During this time, a deadlock emerged between Kasa-Vubu and Lumumba when Lumumba ordered assistance from the Soviet Union. Kasa-Vubu accused Lumumba of communist sympathies and ordered the dissolution of Lumumba's government. Lumumba attempted to join a rival government of his supporters known as the Free Republic of the Congo, but was captured and killed by Katangese separatist forces in January 1961. With UN support, Kasa-Vubu's government eventually suppressed the Katanga, South Kasai and Free Republic rebellions between 1962 and 1963. New pro-Lumumba rebellions also emerged in 1963 in the form of the Kwilu and Simba rebellions, which were both later defeated by 1965. Following a political stalemate, Kasa-Vubu was finally deposed by a coup d'état led by Joseph-Désiré Mobutu in November 1965. He died four years later.