Thomas Kanza

Thomas Rudolphe Kanza
Republic of the Congo Minister-Delegate to the United Nations
In office 24 June 1960 – 22 November 1960
President	Joseph Kasa-Vubu
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	Justin Bomboko
Personal details
Born	10 October 1933 Léopoldville, Belgian Congo
Died	25 October 2004(2004-10-25) (aged 71) London, United Kingdom
Political party	Union Sacrée de l'Opposition (?–1993)
Alma mater	Université catholique de Louvain Harvard University

Thomas Rudolphe Kanza or Nsenga Kanza (10 October 1933 – 25 October 2004) was a Congolese diplomat. He was one of the first Congolese nationals to graduate from a university. From 1960 to 1962, he served as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo)'s first ambassador to the United Nations and from 1962 to 1964, was a delegate to the United Kingdom. His opposition to the governments of Moïse Tshombe and Joseph-Désiré Mobutu led him to first rebel and ultimately flee the Congo. He returned in 1983, and resumed politics. From Mobutu's ousting in 1997 until his own death, Kanza served in diplomatic roles for the Congo.