Although the rebellion was conceived as an opposition to Patrice Lumumba's central government, it continued even after the democratically elected prime minister was violently overthrown, leading to Lumumba's own kidnap and murder inside the breakaway state.
The rebellion began as a challenge to Patrice Lumumba's central authority, but continued even after the democratically elected prime minister was brutally removed from power, resulting in Lumumba's own capture and killing inside the secessionist territory.