Shortly after independence, a widespread mutiny in the army and the secession of several provinces resulted in a domestic crisis.
In August Lihau met with a UN official in New York who encouraged him to disseminate support of a reconciliation between the central government and the authorities of the rebellious "State of Katanga".
President Joseph Kasa-Vubu dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in September 1960 but the latter refused to leave his post, creating a political impasse.
In response, Colonel Joseph-Desiré Mobutu launched a coup and displaced the parliamentary system.
On 20 September he announced the formation of the "College of Commissioners-General", a government made up of university students and graduates.
Lihau was appointed Commissioner-General of Justice.
The college was dissolved on 9 February and replaced by a new government under Prime Minister Joseph Iléo.
Lihau was made Secretary of State for Justice.
During this time he frequently worked with Belgian advisers.

Lihau traveled to Katanga in November 1960 to negotiate with the rebellious province's leaders.
He assisted in organising and subsequently took part in the Léopoldville Conference in January 1961 to discuss political compromise and reform.
He also participated in the Tananarive Conference in March and the following Coquilhatville Conference in April on behalf of Iléo to try and bring about a reconciliation among the dissident factions in the Congo.
As result of the latter conference, Iléo created a commission to prepare a new constitution for the Congo and appointed Lihau to chair it.
Lihau played a key role in the drafting process from that point forward.
In June he joined Cyrille Adoula and Jean Bolikango in negotiating with the representatives of the Stanleyville government.
Their meetings continued into July and resulted in the reconvening of Parliament and the Stanleyville government agreeing to disband.
On 2 August the Iléo Government was replaced by a new government under Adoula.
In January 1963 Lihau was hired to be professor and dean of the faculty of law at Lovanium University (later the National University of Zaire).
He encouraged his students to adopt a constitutionalist approach to law.

On 27 November 1963 President Kasa-Vubu announced the formation of a new "Constitutional Commission".
The commission convened on 10 January 1964 in Luluabourg, with Lihau serving as its secretary.
A draft was completed by 11 April, but its presentation to the public was delayed as Kasa-Vubu's government and the commission debated over which faction held the prerogative to make revisions.
Kasa-Vubu eventually yielded and the constitution was submitted for ratification to the Congolese electorate at the end of June.
The "Luluabourg Constitution", as it was known, was adopted with 80 percent approval.
On 26 July Lihau was made a member of the Congolese section of the International Commission of Jurists.
In 1965 another period of government paralysis led Mobutu to seize total control of the country.
He requested that Lihau draft a new constitution, which was adopted on 24 June 1967.

On 14 August 1968 Lihau was named First President of the new Supreme Court of Justice of the Congo.
He was officially installed in the position on 23 November.
In his inaugural speech, Lihau requested "the scrupulous respect of all the authorities of the Republic the status of the magistracy guaranteeing independence in the exercise of its functions."
Two years later he became editor of the new law journal La Revue Congolaise de Droit and also served as general delegate to the Office Nationale de la Recherche et du Developpement for its judicial, political, and social research division.
Marcel Lihau soon adopted the name Ebua Libana la Molengo Lihau, as per the encouraged Africanisation in accordance with Mobutu's policy of Authenticité.
As a judge, he believed that the term "law" applied "not only to legislative acts, but also to regulatory acts which are at least not illegal, as well as international treaties and ratified agreements".
In 1971 Lihau was inducted into t
Shortly after independence, a widespread mutiny in the army and the secession of several provinces resulted in a domestic crisis. In August Lihau met with a UN official in New York who encouraged him to disseminate support of a reconciliation between the central government and the authorities of the rebellious "State of Katanga". President Joseph Kasa-Vubu dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in September 1960 but the latter refused to leave his post, creating a political impasse. In response, Colonel Joseph-Desiré Mobutu launched a coup and displaced the parliamentary system. On 20 September he announced the formation of the "College of Commissioners-General", a government made up of university students and graduates. Lihau was appointed Commissioner-General of Justice. The college was dissolved on 9 February and replaced by a new government under Prime Minister Joseph Iléo. Lihau was made Secretary of State for Justice. During this time he frequently worked with Belgian advisers.
Lihau traveled to Katanga in November 1960 to negotiate with the rebellious province's leaders. He assisted in organising and subsequently took part in the Léopoldville Conference in January 1961 to discuss political compromise and reform. He also participated in the Tananarive Conference in March and the following Coquilhatville Conference in April on behalf of Iléo to try and bring about a reconciliation among the dissident factions in the Congo. As result of the latter conference, Iléo created a commission to prepare a new constitution for the Congo and appointed Lihau to chair it. Lihau played a key role in the drafting process from that point forward. In June he joined Cyrille Adoula and Jean Bolikango in negotiating with the representatives of the Stanleyville government. Their meetings continued into July and resulted in the reconvening of Parliament and the Stanleyville government agreeing to disband. On 2 August the Iléo Government was replaced by a new government under Adoula. In January 1963 Lihau was hired to be professor and dean of the faculty of law at Lovanium University (later the National University of Zaire). He encouraged his students to adopt a constitutionalist approach to law.
On 27 November 1963 President Kasa-Vubu announced the formation of a new "Constitutional Commission". The commission convened on 10 January 1964 in Luluabourg, with Lihau serving as its secretary. A draft was completed by 11 April, but its presentation to the public was delayed as Kasa-Vubu's government and the commission debated over which faction held the prerogative to make revisions. Kasa-Vubu eventually yielded and the constitution was submitted for ratification to the Congolese electorate at the end of June. The "Luluabourg Constitution", as it was known, was adopted with 80 percent approval. On 26 July Lihau was made a member of the Congolese section of the International Commission of Jurists. In 1965 another period of government paralysis led Mobutu to seize total control of the country. He requested that Lihau draft a new constitution, which was adopted on 24 June 1967.
On 14 August 1968 Lihau was named First President of the new Supreme Court of Justice of the Congo. He was officially installed in the position on 23 November. In his inaugural speech, Lihau requested "the scrupulous respect of all the authorities of the Republic the status of the magistracy guaranteeing independence in the exercise of its functions." Two years later he became editor of the new law journal La Revue Congolaise de Droit and also served as general delegate to the Office Nationale de la Recherche et du Developpement for its judicial, political, and social research division. Marcel Lihau soon adopted the name Ebua Libana la Molengo Lihau, as per the encouraged Africanisation in accordance with Mobutu's policy of Authenticité. As a judge, he believed that the term "law" applied "not only to legislative acts, but also to regulatory acts which are at least not illegal, as well as international treaties and ratified agreements". In 1971 Lihau was inducted into t
Marcel Lihau