15 Facts About Isaac Kalonji

Isaac Kalonji Mutambayi was a Congolese Protestant minister and statesman who served as the President of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1962 until 1965.

Isaac Kalonji was one of the few politicians to serve the country continuously from its independence in 1960 until its democratisation in the 1990s.

Isaac Kalonji was born on 9 September 1915 in Lusambo, Belgian Congo to a Muluba father and a Lulua mother.

However, later that year the Italian merchant running the enterprise repatriated himself due to the development of World War II, and Isaac Kalonji lost his job.

Isaac Kalonji subsequently enlisted in the Force Publique, serving for one year during the force's mobilisiation.

Isaac Kalonji remained in the city until 1959, running several successful business ventures.

In 1953 Isaac Kalonji founded the Federation des Ressortissants du Kasai.

Isaac Kalonji traveled to Belgium in 1954 and toured the United States from December 1956 to March 1957.

Isaac Kalonji served as a delegate for the Katanga Cartel at the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference in early 1960.

In July 1961 Isaac Kalonji was elected First Vice President of the Senate.

In November 1962 Isaac Kalonji became President of the Senate, having his mandate of office renewed in March and September 1963.

Isaac Kalonji later became the secretary general of the Convention Nationale Congolaise.

Isaac Kalonji was reelected senator in 1965, representing the province of South Kasai.

Isaac Kalonji assisted Joseph Ileo in founding the Parti Democrate Social Chretien as the Congo began democratising.

Isaac Kalonji served as the first president of the Conference Nationale Souveraine in 1991, though he was later replaced at the behest of opposition delegates, who regarded him as too close to Mobutu.