15 Facts About Maurice Mpolo

Maurice Mpolo was a Congolese politician who served as Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of the Congo in 1960.

Maurice Mpolo was executed alongside Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in Katanga in 1961.

Maurice Mpolo was born on 12 September 1928 in Inongo, Belgian Congo.

Maurice Mpolo had five years of primary education before studying as a novitiate for three years at the Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes a Tumba.

Maurice Mpolo later attended school in Leopoldville but was forced to drop out due to domestic problems.

Maurice Mpolo became involved in several private enterprises and served in the colonial police force, though he was dismissed from duty on 10 September 1952, after being repeatedly reprimanded for displaying arrogance and indiscipline.

Maurice Mpolo eventually became the president of the Leopoldville chapter of the Mouvement National Congolais and participated in the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference in Brussels, Belgium on the organisation's behalf.

Maurice Mpolo's youth had been very turbulent, and he had had much to suffer; among the young men of Leopoldville he was considered one of the tough ones.

Maurice Mpolo was appointed by Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba to be Minister of Youth and Sports, effectively becoming the government's chief propagandist.

Maurice Mpolo attempted to undermine it and rivaled Mobutu for control of the army.

Maurice Mpolo told the press that he believed all of the conflicted parties in the central government would eventually unite.

Later that day Maurice Mpolo was able to return to his home unmolested and requested that the UN strengthen its guard at his residence.

Maurice Mpolo was captured before he could complete his escape and imprisoned at the army camp in Thysville.

Maurice Mpolo intended on reaching Stanleyville, but before he left he addressed a crowd of Lumumba's supporters at Lac Leopold II.

Maurice Mpolo was later transferred to Thysville, along with Vice President of the Senate Joseph Okito.