Upanga Umbutu (died 2014) was the first Congolese ruler and founder of the National Republic of Umbutu. Internationally, he was regarded as a warlord and firm isolationist who came to power in the aftermath of the War of 1996. He was ultimately overthrown by his people and killed by his closest adviser.
Biography[]
Rise to Power[]
Upanga Umbutu was a provincial ruler of Hungarian and Congolese descent until the War of 1996 allowed him to take advantage of the chaos and the loss of government control in the Congo. He declared the independence of his province, which he dubbed it the National Republic of Umbutu. During the early years of his rule, Upanga led his people in eradicating the alien remnants that occupied parts of his country after an intact City Destroyer landed in the region.
Unlike other nations who swiftly dealt with the invaders through international cooperation, Upanga strongly refused to seek foreign military aid against the aliens; driven by the lessons of the European colonization of Africa, Upanga believed that inviting foreign nations for assistance would only allow them to occupy his country in order to loot the City Destroyer for themselves. Upon coming into power, Upanga immediately enforced an isolationist policy to prohibit foreign nations from intervening in his country, and declared the City Destroyer to be state property of the NRU.
Without foreign help, Upanga led his national army against the aliens for ten years. Though the aliens were ultimately killed, Upanga suffered the loss of one of his sons, Bakari, who died in battle. Bakari's death deeply affected Upanga, which is further worsened by his exposure to the aliens' telepathic intrusions.
Madness[]
After the aliens were finally eradicated, Upanga was driven insane and maintained his beliefs that the aliens are not dead, and even believing that the aliens are disguising themselves as human beings. Upanga's reign grew increasingly harsh, as he forbid his people from leaving the country on penalty of death and even committing mass murder on villages for disobeying his rule. Upanga also became religiously superstitious, as he surrounded himself with seers and charlatans, and protected himself with magical charms. On sudden tours of the country, he would be draped in ornaments that he created from alien bones and exoskeletons.
Upanga's son Dikembe tried to overthrow him by kidnapping him and removing him from his country. However, Upanga already realized of his son's treachery and swiftly crushed his coup. Dikembe was captured and marked for death.
Months after the failed coup, Upanga's madness grew worse and he found his own death cult, believing that humans and aliens were divided halves of a single whole organism. Thus, he saw that organism could only be reintegrated by killing the human part. According to Dikembe, over half of Umbutu's population were killed during Upanga's crusade.
Death[]
Upanga's reign of terror came to an end when his close advisor Zuberi turned against him and freed Dikembe, who and along with a large gathering of the Umbutu people confronted their mad warlord. Incensed by this demonstration, Upanga forced a pistol to Dikembe and daring him to shoot his father. Dikembe, however, refused. Angered, Upanga then orders Zuberi to kill his son. But Zuberi turned his gun on Upanga and fatally shot him. As he lay dying, Upanga's final words to Dikembe were, "again you fail me."
Quotes[]
- "Aid. Aid in the form of foreign troops. Planes in our airspace—and who is to say that when the war is over, this 'aid' won't stay here and continue to 'help' us? I know the lessons of colonialism, son. We can—and will—do this ourselves."
- ―Upanga voicing against foreign help.
- "I shall never recover. Not until they are all dead."
- ―Upanga reaffirming his goals on destroying the aliens.
Appearances[]
- Independence Day: Crucible
- Independence Day: Resurgence (Mentioned only; cameo in a portrait)