People of the Congo Crisis

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected president, at 43 years, and the first Catholic president. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A member of the Democratic Party, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress before his presidency.

Ernesto "Che" Guevara de la Serna was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, politician, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. A General of the Army, Eisenhower was the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. His successful leadership in Operation Torch (1942–1943) and Operation Overlord was pivotal to the Allied victory in World War II.

Swedish diplomat, economist, and author (1905-1961)

Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first prime minister of the First Congolese Republic from June until September 1960, following the May 1960 election. Lumumba was the leader of the Congolese National Movement (MNC) from 1958 until his assassination in 1961. Ideologically an African nationalist and pan-Africanist, he played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic.

President of Uganda (1971-1979)

Congolese politician and military officer, the first and only president of Zaire from 1971 to 1997 (1930 – 1997)

UN Secretary-General from 1961 to 1971

diplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner (1904–1971)

former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1939-2001)

Congolese politician

first civilian and longest-serving Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)

Congolese politician and secessionist leader (1919–1969)

Congolese Prime Minister, candidate for President (1925 – 2019)

Nigerian military leader (1924-1966)

Ghanaian politician (1915-1992)

Belgian prime minister (1905-1988)

Nigerian politician and general (1938–1976)

soldier and former military head of state of Ghana (1931-1979)

Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister (1932-2017)

American politician (1930–2018)

soldier, politician, and former head of state of Ghana (1936-1979)

French mercenary (1929–2007)

Belgian politician (1914-1973)

Irish-born soldier

Congolese Prime Minister, Ambassador (1921-1978)

Congolese Prime Minister (1921-1994)

Congolese martyr (1939–1964)

Congolese politician and Prime Minister (1928-2014)

Democratic Republic of the Congo politician (1929-1968)

German mercenary (1920–1983)

Irish politician, writer, historian and academic (1917-2008)

Congolese politician (1926-1966)

Congolese politician (1928-1986)

Congolese politician (1930–2023)

16th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army

Democratic Republic of the Congo politician (1929–2015)

Congolese politician (1909–1982)

Belgian mercenary (1929-1988)

Royal Air Force flying ace (1915–1986)

Recipient of Param Vir Chakra (1935-1961)

Polish mercenary and journalist (1932–2002)

Congolese activist and writer

German diplomat and author

Cuban revolutionary

Congolese politician (1933-2004)

Congolese politician (1927-2015)

Italian missionary (1924–1964)

Belgian colonial general

Democratic Republic of the Congo politician (1913–2002)

Indian diplomat, writer, Ambassador

Congolese politician

Democratic Republic of the Congo politician (1925-1992)

Congolese politician (1930-1999)

Congolese politician

Norwegian general

American physician (1928-1964)

Nigerian soldier and politician

Belgian diplomat (1910–1985)

South African mercenary (1933–1996)