08/10/2025
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Below is a list of African leaders assassinated by Western powers for advocating a united Africa.
1. Patrice Lumumba (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Died: January 17, 1961, Katanga, DRC
Cause: Executed by firing squad
First prime minister, advocated Pan-Africanism, sought to nationalize Congo’s resources.
Western Involvement: Declassified CIA documents reveal plans to assassinate Lumumba, including a $100,000 bounty. The U.S. supported Mobutu’s coup to destabilize Lumumba’s government. Belgian officials facilitated Lumumba’s transfer to Katanga separatists, who executed him with Belgian complicity. Belgium apologized in 2002 for its role.
2. Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso)
Died: October 15, 1987, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Cause: Killed during coup
Revolutionary leader, promoted self-reliance, Pan-African unity, rejected IMF loans.
Western Involvement: France is widely suspected of involvement due to Sankara’s anti-French policies and economic independence push also,France supported Blaise Compaoré’s regime post-coup.
3. Amílcar Cabral (Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde)
Died: January 20, 1973, Conakry, Guinea
Cause: Assassinated by gunshot
Led PAIGC against Portuguese colonialism, emphasized Pan-African cultural unity.
Western Involvement: Portuguese intelligence (PIDE) orchestrated the assassination by exploiting PAIGC internal rivalries, arming and directing dissidents.
4. Sylvanus Olympio (Togo)
Died: January 13, 1963, Lomé, Togo
Cause: Assassinated during military coup
First president, rejected CFA franc, planned sovereign currency.
Western Involvement: France opposed Olympio’s currency plans, which threatened its neocolonial control over West Africa. U.S. and French support for the coup led by Gnassingbé Eyadéma is alleged, with reports of U.S. embassy complicity in denying Olympio refuge.
5. Muammar Gaddafi (Libya)
Died: October 20, 2011, Sirte, Libya
Cause: Killed by rebels during civil war
Championed African Union, proposed gold-backed African currency.
Western Involvement: NATO, led by the U.S., France, and UK, conducted airstrikes and provided logistical support to rebels during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. Declassified Clinton emails suggest France’s interest in neutralizing Gaddafi’s financial plans, particularly his push for an African currency. NATO’s role was pivotal in enabling rebels to capture and kill Gaddafi.
6-Félix-Roland Moumié (Cameroon)
Died: November 3, 1960, Geneva, Switzerland
Cause: Poisoned (thallium)
French intelligence (SDECE) is confirmed to have poisoned Moumié via an agent in Geneva, targeting his opposition to French influence in Cameroon.
7 -Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique)
Died: February 3, 1969, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Cause: Killed by parcel bomb
Western Involvement: Portuguese intelligence (PIDE) is primary suspect, with bomb likely sent via colonial networks.
8-Chris Hani (South Africa)
Died: April 10, 1993, Boksburg, South Africa
Cause: Assassinated by gunshot
advocated African unity against apartheid.
Western Involvement: Assassin Janusz Waluś was linked to right-wing groups with alleged ties to Western intelligence.
9-Samora Machel (Mozambique)
Died: October 19, 1986, Mbuzini, South Africa
Cause: Plane crash (suspected sabotage)
supported Pan-African liberation movements.
Western Involvement: South African apartheid regime, backed by Western powers, is suspected of causing the crash via navigational interference. Investigations suggest Soviet equipment was tampered with.