Albert Kalonji (6 June 1929 – 20 April 2015) was a Congolese politician and businessman from the Luba ya Kasai nobility.

In 1960, Kalonji was elected emperor of the Lubas and head of state of South Kasai by the nobility the ministers and the Kasaian people.

In August 1959, he was convicted of "inciting racial hatred" (conflict between Lulua and Baluba) and was exiled to Kole, but was later released.

In September 1962, Albert Kalonji was overthrown in a military coup instigated by his prime minister, Joseph Ngalula.

[4] Kalonji, a chief from the Luba ethnic group, began his political career under Belgian colonial rule as a member of the nationalist Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) party led by Patrice Lumumba.

Within days of being independent from Belgium, the new Republic of the Congo[a] found itself torn between competing political factions, as well as by foreign interference.

In emulation of Winston Churchill, he adopted the V sign for victory to express his confidence in South Kasai's ability to achieve its goals.

[7] On 12 April 1961, Kalonji's father, Edmond Mukanya Mulenda, was granted the title Mulopwe (which roughly translates to "emperor" or "god-king"),[8] but he immediately "abdicated" in favor of his son.

[6] On 16 July, In April 1961, Kalonji took the royal title Mulopwe ("King of the Baluba") to tie the state more closely to the pre-colonial Luba Empire.

As preparation for the invasion of Katanga, Congolese government troops invaded and occupied South Kasai, becoming involved in ethnic-based violence and displacing thousands of Baluba.