3. Patrice Lumumba, Congo (1960-1961)
In 1960, Patrice Lumumba became the first Prime Minister of the newly independent Congo. His nationalist policies and appeal to the Soviet Union during the Cold War alarmed the United States. The CIA plotted his assassination, including plans to poison him, but these were not executed. Lumumba was eventually captured by rival forces and executed on January 17, 1961. Declassified documents suggest U.S. involvement in his removal, though direct responsibility for his death remains debated. (bbc.com)
