Kasavubu, Joseph (1910–1969)

Congolese politician, first president of the Republic of Congo 1960–65. After winning a power struggle with prime minister Patrice Lumumba when the Congo gained independence from Belgium, he fought off a challenge from Sese Seko Mobutu in the ensuing civil war. However, he was later ousted by Mobutu in a coup in November 1965.

Kasavubu began to train as a priest at mission schools and seminaries, but abandoned this to become a teacher and then a civil servant. Entering politics, he became mayor of Léopoldville in 1957, but was arrested by the Belgians in 1959 for nationalist agitation. In the turmoil following the Belgian withdrawal from the Congo, Kasavubu came to power in June 1960, aided by UN forces sent to restore law and order.