Joseph-Georges Kasongo was a Tanganyikan-born Congolese lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the first President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of the Congo.
23 Facts About Joseph Kasongo
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Joseph Kasongo later held office as a deputy prime minister and as a senator.
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In 1960 the Congo became independent and Joseph Kasongo was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, shortly thereafter becoming its president.
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Joseph Kasongo remained loyal to Lumumba and demanded that Parliament reconvene.
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Joseph Kasongo formed a splinter group from the party and in 1966 he became a member of the Senate.
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Joseph Kasongo died in 1990 while trying to reestablish the MNC.
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Joseph Kasongo was born on 25 December 1919 in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika.
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Joseph Kasongo's family was part of the Kusu tribe of the Tetela ethnic group and came from the village of Lukonge, Aluba chieftaincy, Kibombo Territory, Maniema, Belgian Congo.
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Joseph Kasongo conducted three years of business studies and four years of legal studies.
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Joseph Kasongo was a member of several mutual organisations and trade associations.
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On 15 May 1959 Joseph Kasongo was elected president of the Orientale Province's chapter of the MNC.
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Joseph Kasongo was invited to attend as a delegate for the MNC but threatened to boycott the conference unless Lumumba, who had been arrested and imprisoned, was allowed to go as well.
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Joseph Kasongo presided over the joint-session of Parliament that elected the Congo's first head of state and the country's formal independence ceremony that took place on 30 June 1960 at the Palais de la Nation, which included Prime Minister Lumumba's controversial Congolese Independence Speech.
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Joseph Kasongo served as the chairman of the Chamber's constitutional commission.
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Joseph Kasongo played a key role in attempting to reconcile the two to avoid a political impasse.
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Joseph Kasongo then attended a Francophone-African conference in Brazzaville where foreign diplomats attempted to provide mediation between the Congolese factions.
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However, by January 1961 Mobutu's government of commissioners was foundering due to financial problems and Joseph Kasongo angrily demanded that Lumumba be restored to the premiership.
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When proposals were made to have the dispute over governance settled in a round table discussion, Joseph Kasongo rejected the idea and demanded for Parliament's powers to be restored.
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Joseph Kasongo was the first person to accommodate himself in the service.
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Deputy Prime Minister Bolikango personally requested that he return to his residence under government protection, but Joseph Kasongo chose to remain with his family in a UN-guarded facility.
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On 17 April 1963 Joseph Kasongo was made Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for the Economic Coordination portfolio in Cyrille Adoula's new government.
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Joseph Kasongo criticised the old party leadership for forgoing electoral organisation and strategy in favor of advocating dissent and rebellion.
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Joseph Kasongo died on 19 October 1990 in Bunia while working to revitalise the MNC.