The murder of Lumumba, in which the U.S. was involved, in the Congo destroyed Africa's major hope for development. Congo is now total horror story, for years.

The quote "The murder of Lumumba, in which the U.S. was involved, in the Congo destroyed Africa’s major hope for development. Congo is now a total horror story, for years." by Noam Chomsky reflects his critique of Western involvement in African politics, particularly the role the United States played in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Congo. Lumumba was seen as a symbol of hope for the Congo's independence and development, advocating for national unity and sovereignty after the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Chomsky argues that his death, which occurred in 1961 with the involvement of the U.S. and Belgian forces, had a devastating impact on the country's potential for growth and stability.

Chomsky frames Lumumba’s murder as a pivotal event in the Congo's history, one that crushed the hopes of an independent, self-governed African nation. He argues that the U.S. government saw Lumumba's leadership as a threat due to his pro-independence stance and his willingness to work with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. In this context, the Congo's assassination marked the beginning of a prolonged period of political instability, with the country enduring years of violence and exploitation, both from internal strife and external intervention.

The phrase "total horror story" emphasizes the extreme suffering that the Congo has faced in the aftermath of Lumumba's death. Chomsky’s use of this stark imagery underscores his view that the Congo has been subjected to continual violence, corruption, and exploitation, particularly through the involvement of Western powers interested in the country’s natural resources. This prolonged suffering, in Chomsky's view, is directly tied to the undermining of Congo’s leadership and potential after Lumumba's removal.

Ultimately, Chomsky’s quote critiques the geopolitical actions of the U.S. and other Western countries in Africa during the Cold War, particularly their involvement in Congo. It underscores his argument that the West, in its pursuit of strategic interests, has had a profoundly negative impact on the political and economic development of African nations, especially in the case of Lumumba and the Congo.