Central Africa Post WWII

Why Europeans were interested in C Africa Natural Resources Exploitation Colonization

Henry Morton Stanley Famous explorer / journalist Claimed the Congo River basin for King Leopold II of Belgium In search of Dr. Livingston Responsible for the deaths of many Africans in the Congo

Dr. Livingston Medical missionary and explorer of Africa London Missionary Society First European to cross the interior of Africa Lost contact with the outside world and was found by H. M. Stanley Died in Africa

C Africa Before, During and After WWII

C Africa Before, During and After WWII Almost all of Africa was under colonial rule during WWII Not until after the war did independence movements gain support European countries were left weak after WWII However most countries were not given support or prepared for self rule As a result may bloody conflicts erupted

C Africa Before, During and After WWII Country Year of Independence Cameroon 1960 Democratic Republic of the Congo Central African Republic The Congo Gabon Rwanda 1962 Burundi Zambia 1964 Equatorial Guinea 1968 Angola 1975

Gabon Became independent in 1960 Omar Bongo 1935-2009 Second President of Gabon World’s longest serving non-monarch ruler One of world’s wealthiest heads of state Speculation of corruption from country’s oil money profits

Republic of the Congo Gained independence in 1960 from Belgium Patrice Lumumba Independence leader and first elected Prime Minister Only lasted 10 months Congo Crisis Lumumba was ousted by a military coup, imprisoned and executed by firing squad Coup was supported by the US government

Ziare Sese Seko takes control of the Congo with the support of the US Wanted to purge country of colonial past Created an authoritarian gov’t Was corrupt Over thrown in the First Congo War

Democratic Republic of the Congo Renamed again after the First Congo War Laurent Kabila was the first President Promised reform but never happened He was assassinated by his body guards Joseph Kabila Son of Laurent took over country after his father’s death Thought to be inexperienced Rebuilt relations with the West and made reforms Ended the Second Congo War

Other Issues in C. Africa Deforestation Commercial companies are cutting down the rainforests in C. Africa Wildlife Poaching Animals such as gorillas, elephants, and rinos are killed and harvested for their value on the black market