Patrice Émery Lumumba (born Élias Okit'Asombo; July 2, 1925 – 17 January 1961) is a Congolese independence leader and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo, after he helps win its independence from Belgium in June 1960.

Only twelve weeks later, Lumumba's government is deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis.

The main reason why he is ousted from power was his opposition to Belgian-backed secession of the mineral-rich Katanga province.

He is subsequently imprisoned by state authorities under Joseph-Desiré Mobutu and executed by firing squad under the command of the secessionist Katangan authorities.

The United Nations, which he had asked to come to the Congo, does not intervene to save him.

It has been stated that the killing was committed with the assistance of a foreign government or governments; the governments of Belgium, the United States (via the CIA) and Great Britain have all been stated to have been involved, by various accounts.