Congo Flashcards
Congo before 1908
Private property of King Leopold
Vast slave state
Rubber
Congo from 1908-1960
Congo became under Belgian occupation after the revelation of Leopold’s brutality.
Governance improved drastically however resentment was prominent due to the arrogance of Belgian administration.
1959: Political riots in Leopoldville and Stanleyvilled
Belgium realised continued occupation would be more expensive than just allowing Belgian companies to work with an independent Congo.
Congo in 1960
Jan 1960: Lumumba was released to attend Brussels Conference
May: Lumumba and MNC win elections however coalition government is formed with Kasa-Vubu(ABAKO)
June: Congo gained independence
Congo crisis
Resentment within Mobutu’s army:
Kept white officers in their positions
Did not raise the pay of soldiers
Belgian soldiers arrived in Congo to oversee the evacuation of Belgian civilians
Lumumba saw this as a straight vio of independence
Copper-rich Katanga (Moise Tshombe) secedes from Congo
South Kasai (Funded by Belgian company) also secedes
Army sent in to stop secession
After being denied assistance from UN; Lumumba sought help from the USSR
Dec: Lumumba captured by Mobutu
Jan 1961: Lumumba assassinated
Mobutu
1965: Came into the power
DRC became a one-party state
US supported him heavily despite knowing he was a dictator who established a kleptocracy in the country
1966: Nationalised huge Belgian mine (GECAMINE)
1967: New currency introduced
1996: Economy collapse; replaced by Laurent Kabila
Authenticite
A campaign aimed at providing a sense of pride in Congolese culture while helping Mobutu establish his power
Created a paternalistic rhetoric by claiming Democracy was a foreign ideology
Country changed to Zaire
City names got more “Traditional” names
Priests were banned from baptizing children with European names
Clothing centred around being more African
Zairianisation
Many companies nationalised however they were given to people close to him (Nepotism)
Had no experience running these business = Drop production and sales
1974: Drop in copper price - a major export = mo problems
Zaire became bankrupt by the 80s, printed more money = inflation
Economic successes
Mining, oil, agriculture and foresty continued to generate money for Congo
Industry was encouraged through reduced import duties
Foreign firms provided employment
Foreign firms were well taxed
Mobutu successfully got aid from the USA
Country successfully borrowed money from IMF and private banks
Economic challenges
Profit from mining companies went overseas
Once mines were localised they were not managed well
A lot of wealth generated went to Mobutu and top-ranking officials
Endemic corruption wasting foreign aid and loans
Developed large national debt
Infrastructure showed lack of development
Civil wars interrupted trade, industry and agriculture
Runaway inflation due to overprinting of money
Poverty increased
Economy became fragile in 94 when the GECAMINES experienced financial trouble
Political successes
Political stability was largely achieved
Country remained unified despite countless attempts at secession
National identity built through authenticite
Elections were held in 2006 ane 2011
2016 election was held under a new constitution
Political challenges
Once Belgians left, very little people had experience running a country
Different ethnic groups with different allegiances
Infighting between factions caused death and instability
Great inequality within the population
Checks and balances were not put in place to protect the democracy established
No freedom of speech
Corruption was endemic
Dependence on Western countries
Western businesses in Congo threatened Congo’s sovereignty
Conflict in Rwanda filtered into Congo
Two civil wars occurred
Human rights were not protected
Lack of transparency in elections that are held now
Social successes
Independence led to end of White supremacy
Kinshasa became one of the largest urban areas in Africa
Country worked with IMF to reform educational and healthcare sectors in 2004
Social challenges
Overcrowding, crime, and lack of sanitation and water in urban communities
Displacement of many people due to civil war
Malnutrition due to lack of agricultural activity
Many people suffered from diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria
No protective legislation in mining industry
Incidences of sexual violence increased
Medical care and post-traumatic counselling were hardly present
Gender inequality was high
Raped women were stigmatized
Homosexuals were persecuted
Ethnic groups were victims of hate speech and forced to work as slaves
Literacy rates were low
20% of children don’t enter secondary education
