Independent Africa: The Congo Flashcards
Under which country and for how long was the Congo a colony?
The Congo was colonised by Belgium from 1878-1959
and was one of the wealthiest colonies in Africa
What were the features of Belgian colonial rule?
Belgium practised paternalist colonialism.
- exploited for its resources (rubber in particular
- high taxes
- forced labour
- limited secondary education (nothing higher)
- Nearly 10 million died under King
Leopold’s Rule (1885 – 1908)
How did colonialism affect the Congo politically and socially?
- No political opportunities for Africans (Belgian administrators treated Africans as children)
- No representation at the central government level
- No political parties allowed
- small educated elite
- 30 university graduates out of a population of 14 million
How did colonialism affect the Congo economically?
- an economy based on raw resources (cotton rubber, copper, tin, diamonds)
- Belgian mining companies and plantations
- Profits taken to Belgium, not Congo
- workers abused, exploited, and underpaid
- local industries began to be established only after WW2
- one of the richest colonies, but only for the colonisers
How did Belgium feel about African Nationalism?
Belgium was determined to hold onto the Congo:
- attempted to contain nationalist ideas
- political parties still banned
- no independent African newspapers allowed
Name the two important nationalist movements that formed in the Congo and their leaders
- Joseph Kasavubu – Alliance des Ba-Kongo
(ABAKO) - Patrice Lumumba – Mouvement National
Congolais (MNC)
Explain the Leopoldville riots and what resulted from them
- 1959
- demonstrators destroyed govt
buildings and churches in anger of unemployment, discrimination and
overcrowding in the Congo - Belgium decided to grant
independence immediately, allowing for its first democratic elections - (hoping to maintain control
because of the inexperience of
politicians)
Explain the difficulties of the 1960s elections
- Around 120 parties registered between May 1959 and May 1960, almost all of which were formed around 1 of the Congo’s 200 ethnic groups
- The divisions along ethnic lines made the Congo vulnerable to power
struggles
When did the Congo gain political independence?
30 June 1960
What did the Congo’s independence look like right after the elections?
- Belgium kept control of the economy and military
- MNC won most seats but the polls were very close
- Patrice Lumumba was named Prime Minister. (Wanted a strong central government)
- Joseph Kasavubu was named President. (Wanted a loose federation with regional autonomy)
What two problems faced the country right after it became independent?
- Congolese Army (The
Force Publique) mutiny
against their Belgian
officers, attacking Belgian civilians and their property
- Lumumba replaced all Belgian officers with Congolese ones - The secession of Kasai (backed by the USSR) and Katanga (declared independent territory)
How and why did Katanga break away from the Congo? What did this lead to?
- Leader Moise Tshombe wanted to take advantage of the Katanga province’s mineral richness (especially in Uranium)
- Katanga was backed by Belgian mining companies who sent troops and weapons
- This was justified by the protection of Belgian nationals and colonial rule/control
- Civil war broke out between the succeeding states and the rest of the Congo
In what way did Lumumba try to find support to quell the foreign support of Katanga and Kasai?
Lumumba appealed to the UN (United Nations) for help to restore order by re-uniting the country and removing the Belgian troops
Was the UN effective in helping Lumumba restore order in the Congo?
No.
- UN peacekeepers refused to help put down the Katangan rebellion.
The UN was not willing to use force against them
Who did Lumumba appeal to for help after the UN failed him?
The USSR