Historian: Bel and the Serpent

For this chapter of The Poisonwood Bible I have the responsiblity of Historian, meaning that my job is to research any background information that is relevant or mentioned in this chapter Bel and the Serpent. Most of the researched is surrounding Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba because in the begining of this chapter he is assassinated.

--June 30, 1960: Independence of the Congo
· Along with the Independence came a name change, “Republic of the Congo”.
· In 1966 Joseph Mobutu changed name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
· In 1971 the name was changed once again to the Republic of Zaire.

--Following the independence, the provinces of Katanga and South Kasai revolted against the new leadership. This lead to the conflict between Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister, and Joseph Kasavubu, President.

--Patrice Lumumba:
· In May of 1960 the former Congolese postal worker was elected Prime Minister of the Congo.
· In September Lumumba was dismissed from office by Joseph Kasavubu, the President of the Congo.
· December 1, 1960: Lumumba was arrested in Port Francqui by troops of Joseph Mobutu.
· January 17, 1961: Katagan forces, which had support from Belgium and the United States CIA, assassinate Lumumba. (Belgium and the US CIA gave their support because of their desires for the Congo’s resources such as coal and diamonds.)
--After Lumumba’s death The Belgian Commission found a CIA-sponsored report to poison Lumumba. This command is speculated to have come from United States President Dwight Eisenhower. CIA chemist Sidney Gottlieb devised the toothpaste-like poison. This plan failed due to the conscience of CIA station chief Larry Devlin, who would not go through with this plan.
--In 1965: Joseph Mobutu, Chief of Staff of the Congo army, overthrew Joseph Kasavubu as President of the Congo.