Very interesting perspective, but I honestly don't think Lumumba could've handled the situation any better. The condition of the country rendered the man very little power. In order to stay alive he would've needed to establish a "friendly" relationship with the ex colonial master. Neo colonialism is not a mutual relationship the oppressor always wants more, however they disguise there intentions diplomatically under the banner of "friendly relations". Lumumba saw through that bullshit with the Princes speech and reacted to it.
Again Lumumba was doomed from the very beginning he had no shot at lifting up his nation without having to sacrifice the resources of the country. Mobutu was willing to do it because he never cared about the people, he only cared about his ego and his own pocket book. In the grand scheme of things there is room to get rich as a sellout and thats what so many African leaders have done.
In conclusion Lumumba was a sacrifical lamb, he should be celebrated as a warrior who walked into a fire knowingly or unknowingly exposing the cost of disorganization. Whether you like Gadaffi or not, his murder also exposed the cost of disunity. How can one country fight three countries?
Many Pan Africanist championed African unity for this very reason, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and even Kwame Ture were the last ones who championed it.
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