Congo

Congo

Free State

~not the Democratc Republic of the Congo!!

1800~1899

Berlin Conference

The Berlin Conference in November of 1884, as most people know, split Africa into many different parts. From the Berlin Conferece is the split of the International Congo Association to the Congo Free State. Thus, there will be no connection from other parts of the world, even Belgium. The land is now free from other countries and would be rule by King Leopold. This also allowed countries to do business with the Congo without any tariffs. Leopold is going to suppress the slave trade. Then in 1885, Leopold ended as the victor.France was given 666,000 km on the north bank, Portugal takes 909,000 km to the south, and Leopold's personal organisation received the balance: 2,344,000 km, with around 30 million people.

After all that, in 1889 during the second conference in Brussles, slavery is going to be stamped out completely. Furthermore, native rights are to be protected. The traffic of liquor and firearms are going to be reduced greatly. Leopold, as the leader, only attended to these affairs as he pleased. Most of his power was focused on the production of rubber in Congo. Since the industrialization creates a high demand of rubber, the rubber workers were never treated nicely.

map of Congo Free State

King Leopold

example of treated harshly:

If the rubber worker did not meet his/her quota of the rubber that they are supposed to produce, the worker's hand would be cut off for punishment.

1900~1949

Early 20th Century in the Congo

The first person to ever reported wicked and cruel behavior in the Congo was a man named George Washington Williams. Williams worked as an African American politician and historian. William Henry Sheppard was another African American who went to Africa. He was a Presbyterian(refers to churches who became Calvanists during the Protestantism) missionary and engaged in direct testimony of these violence. A British man named E.D. Morel found something fun. Even though millions of dollars of rubber and ivory are coming out of Congo but what's going back? Two things, chains and weaponry. Morel described the Congo as a slave country and worked his whole life into destroying it.

As we can clearly see from these three people

who visited the Congo, everything is not going very

well for the civilians and even the slaves. Violence

erupts in many areas as the country encourages

its people by sending in weapons. Chains were to

show that there area people there who are limited

from the outside world, people that are forced

to work for others without pay. The early

twentieth century was a really bad time for

Congo.

1908~1918

Belgiun took over the Congo Free State and renamed the state into Belgian Congo. The Belgian Government outlawed forced labor. They even abolished the crazy tax on rubber in 1912.

1918~1939

The Belgian colonial administration were very little interested in getting the population involved in political life. This is referred to as PATERNALISM.

1939~1960

During WWII, Belgium is again taken over by the Germans. Congo was a very important ally to have because of the country's mineral deposits and it's supply of naturl rubbers. Then on the September of 1944, African soldiers revolted amongst each other in the Belgian Congo.

After the War, the UN pressed for democratic reforms. A group of "new generation" Africans, many were able to obtain western education, became politically organized. A 30 year plan to change to democracy and independance was announced by Belgium in 1955. It was planned to be done in 1985. The first local elections were held in 1957. Things quickly got out of hand. VERY QUICKLY. In 1960, independence was proclaimed. Right after Moise Tshobe's Katanga seceded, the country was engulfed in violence.

1950~modern day

Congo Independent in 1960

The Belgian Congo becomes independant in 1960 from the former French Congo. So now, the countries are referred to as Congo Leopoldville and Congo Brazzaville. Congo declared independence in 1960, the Belgian nationals suddenly found themselves knee deep with angry mobs swarming around them. The UN sent troops to protect communities and foreign nationals. After that, the evacuation of all whites were commenced.

President Kasavubu wanted to dismiss Prime Minister Lumumba at the same time, but the Prime Minister refused to accept that in addition, declaring that President Kasavubu should be deposed instead. Soon enough, the country was split into 4 regions controlled by different strongmen. Only when Col. Mobutu returned to the barracks and Jean Kasavubu resumed presidency did the UN forces disarm the various groups. The battle over Katanga ended by negotiation. With that, unity is restored in the Conog. Finally, in 1964, UN forces were withdrawn.

Has a lot of background information regarding Hotel Rwanda.

But that's not the end!!

In 1964, rebellions escalated again. Kasavubu retired for good at last in 1965, then PM Moise Tshombe fled the country leaving Mobutu there. Mobutu claimed Presidency which he held on until 1997.

Right after Mobutu rose to presidency, and anti-Mobutu-coup appeared in 1996. The rebellions in 1966 and 1967 were complete failures.

Col. Joseph Mobutu

Joseph Kasavubu

Thank you for listening to my presentation. (i know it's long and boring)