History of the Congo and Poisonwood Bible By APEnglishStudent Jan 5, 1957 Voting becomes legal for men. Jan 5, 1957 Municipal elections are held in Leopoldville Jan 5, 1958 Patrice Lumumba founds Congo's 1st national party. Jan 5, 1959 Riots in Leopoldville Dec 5, 1959 Elections for a territorial assembly occur. Jan 5, 1960 96 Congolese delgates visit Brussels Jun 30, 1960 Belgian Congo Gains Independance Jul 5, 1960 25,000 Belgians flee Congo Jul 11, 1960 Moise Tshombe declares Katanga independant. Aug 5, 1960 Lumumba gets Soviet Russian help Nov 5, 1960 Lumumba leaves Leopoldville Jan 5, 1961 Lumumba sent to Katanga to die. Feb 5, 1961 Congo government returned to Kasavubu