Congo (4) Flashcards
- The Congo, with its vast mineral resources and strategic position in central Africa, became a focus of attention by the superpowers during the ____ ____.
- In Tanzania an ambitious and ____-_____ form of African socialism was applied with mixed results.
Cold War
wide-ranging
What happened when Congo became independent in June 1960?
When the Congo became independent from Belgian rule in June 1960, a critical situation soon developed which brought the Cold War to Africa for the first time. The Congo became a tool of the Western powers during the Cold War.
_____ rule in the Congo was very harsh.
Belgian
What were the people of Congo forced to endure under Belgian rule?
The people of the Congo were forced to pay high taxes and had to do forced labour. Belgian policy was based on ‘paternalism’ - a belief that African people should be treated as children and not allowed any responsibility or representation in government.
What was education like during Belgian Rule?
There were few secondary schools and no higher education for Africans, although there were a large number of primary schools.
After the ____ ____ _____, the Belgians were determined to keep the Congo under their control and they tried to stop the spread of nationalist ideas from other African colonies.
Second World War
What led Belgium to grant independence to Congo?
Until the late 1950s, they banned all political parties and independent African newspapers. However, after violent protests in towns around the Congo in 1959, Belgium decided to grant independence within six months.
Why did the Belgians move so quickly?
They were hoping that, if they moved quickly, they could keep control of the government behind the scenes because Congolese politicians were so inexperienced. The people of the Congo were totally unprepared for this sudden change of policy and a large number of political parties were quickly formed.
Many of these were regionally-based parties that drew their support from a single ____ group.
ethnic
What did the people have high hopes of after independence?
As the people of the Congo prepared for the elections in May 1960, they had high hopes that independence would resolve the problems caused by years of poverty and oppression.
What was the result of the elections?
In the elections, 120 political parties participated and no single party won an outright majority of the seats in parliament. The MNC (Mouvement National Congolais), under the leadership of Patrice Lumumba, won the most seats. It was the only party that had attempted to gain nationwide rather than regionally-based support.
What did Lumumba form after Congo became independent?
When the Congo formally became independent in June 1960, Lumumba formed a coalition government.
He became ____ ____, and he appointed his main rival, _____ ______, as president.
prime minister
Joseph Kasavubu
What type of government did the leaders of Congo want?
Lumumba wanted a strong unitary or centrally controlled government, while Kasavubu and other leaders favoured a loose federation, where each region would have some autonomy.
What happened 5 days after independence?
Five days after independence, units in the Congolese army mutinied, demanding the removal of Belgian officers. Violent conflicts broke out in many parts of the country, including attacks on Belgian property and civilians.
What was the unity of the new state threatened by?
The unity of the new state was also threatened by the breakaway of two provinces, Katanga (backed by Belgian mining interests) and Kasai (backed by the Soviet Union).
Which province was the most important?
The most important was Katanga which Moise Tshombe declared to be an independent state. As 50% of the Congo’s total revenue came from Katanga’s mineral wealth (mainly the copper mines), this was a serious blow to the new state.
What did Lumumba see as an attempt by Belgium to restore colonial control? (2)
- When Belgium sent troops to the Congo, supposedly to protect Belgian property and the 100 000 Belgian nationals still in the Congo, Lumumba and others saw this as an attempt by Belgium to restore colonial control.
- They were also suspicious of Belgian motives because of their control of the copper mines in Katanga.
Who did Lumumba appeal to for help?
Lumumba appealed to the United Nations (UN) for military assistance to restore order, to reunite the country and to ensure the withdrawal of Belgian forces. Although a multinational UN force was quickly sent to the Congo, it struggled to achieve these aims. Under pressure from the USA, it was unwilling to use force against Katanga.
What did Lumumba accuse the UN of?
Lumumba accused the UN of representing Western interests and appealed to the USSR for help.
What alarmed the USA?
As Soviet agents, technicians, and transport vehicles started arriving, the USA and other Western nations became increasingly alarmed.
Angered by Lumumba’s appeal to the USSR, _____ deposed him as prime minister.
Kasavubu
Who seized power at this critical stage?
At this critical stage, the commander of the Congolese army, Joseph Mobutu, seized power. He immediately expelled the Soviets and ordered the arrest of Lumumba.
How did Lumumba die?
Lumumba was murdered in captivity, in controversial circumstances, in January 1961. There is evidence to suggest that Mobutu, Tshombe, the American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) and agents of the Belgian government were all involved.
