9 stamps from 4 African countries. Africa remembers Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961). An anti-imperialist independence leader, the was elected as the first prime minister of newly independent Republic of the Congo ( now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He played an important role in transforming the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic. A coup shortly after his election led to his capture, torture and assassination by Belgian mercenaries with the support of the U.S. CIA.