Democratic Republic of the Congo Independence?

How does a country continue after such violence and oppression? Post - King Leopold II How does a country continue after such violence and oppression?

Post - King Leopold II The Congo became an official Belgian colony in 1908. King Leopold died in December 1909. The government controlled administration, the church provided education and moral welfare, and private mining corporations generated the revenue.

Post - King Leopold II The Congo remained IMMENSELY profitable. No other colony in Africa possessed such quantities of copper, diamonds, and uranium. In 1959 the Congo was producing 10% of the world’s copper, 50% of the world’s cobalt and 70% of the world’s diamonds.

Post - King Leopold II Belgium’s colonial rule continued for over fifty years. King Baudouin permitted the formation of African political parties in 1957 due to liberation pressure. On June 30th, 1960 the Congo received Independence.

Independence Day

King Baudouin delivered an address on June 30th celebrating the Congo’s Independence.

“ It is up to you, gentlemen, to show that you are worthy of our confidence. The independence of the Congo constitutes the culmination of the work conceived by the genius of King Leopold II (his uncle), undertaken by him with tenacious courage and continued with perseverance with Belgium. Don’t compromise the future with hasty reforms, and don’t replace structures that Belgium hands over to you until you are sure you can do better.”  

The Congo’s president, Joseph Kasa-Vubu, then gave a short speech in reply, keeping to his prepared text, but, angered by the whole tone of Baudouin’s address, he decided to leave out the final passage which paid tribute to the King. Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba wasn’t so kind.

Independence Day

Lumumba who was excluded from the official programme rose to deliver a tirade against Belgium. What Baudouin had sought to glorify as his great-uncle’s masterpiece was nothing more than ‘humiliating slavery that was imposed on us by force’, he said.

“ We have known sarcasm and insults, endured blows morning, noon and night, because we were ‘negroes’…We have seen our lands despoiled under the terms of what was supposedly the law of the land but which only recognized the right of the strongest. We have seen that the law was quite different for a white than for a black: accommodating for the former, cruel and inhuman for the latter. We have seen terrible suffering of those banished to remote regions because of their political opinions or religious beliefs; exiled within their country, their fate was truly worse than death itself…And finally, who can forget the volleys of gunfire in which so many of our brothers perished, the cells where the authorities threw those who would not submit to a rule where justice meant oppression and exploitation….We are no longer your monkey’s”  

Independence Day Lumumba’s speech was warmly applauded by the Congolese present. But the Belgians were outraged. The official lunch was delayed two hours afterwards as the King and his ministers debated whether to boycott it or not. They coldly attended. Lumumba was then portrayed in the Belgian press as an extremist, but had copies of his speech sent all over the Congo

Independence The risks involved in gaining Independence were enormous. Total population was between 10 and 12 million. No Congolese had acquired any experience of government or parliamentary life. No national or even provincial elections had ever been held. No more than 3 Congolese people out of 1,400 help posts in the civil service (2 of those were newly appointed). No Congolese doctors. No Congolese teachers. No Congolese Army officers. In 1960 the total of University Graduates was 16-30 and only 136 children had completely secondary education.

Independence Civil unrest followed shortly after independence, with Lumumba being targeted by the CIA and Belgian government because of his unwillingness to work with the International community. On January 17th, 1961 Lumumba and two colleagues driven 50 kilometers into a remote bush, led to a clearing where graves had already been dug, and shot by a firing squad. Lumumba was killed last.

The murder of Lumumba quickly turned him into one of the most famous political martyrs of modern times, and led to worldwide protests. The world saw him as a heroic figure struggling to free his country from the iron grip of colonialism. Mobutu assumed the presidency. At the time, it appeared positive for the Congo.  

Independence During his presidency (1961-1997), Mobutu become one of the richest men on the planet stealing more than $5 billion from the country. The Second Congo War, beginning in 1998, devastated the country and involved seven foreign armies and is sometimes referred to as the "African World War". The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people.

Mobutu Sese Seko

Zaire Before Mobutu -Corporation was rubber and copper industry -Working conditions were horrific -Congolese began to hate Europeans for the brutal treatment they were putting them through -Congo’s government wasn’t making radical enough changes

-Congolese broke out in violence against the Europeans -Europeans had to evacuate for their own safety -Army Colonel, Mobutu Sese Seko (a Congolese himself) took over control

Mobutu Gains Power Educated at a Catholic mission school he served in the Belgian colonial army. In 1960 he reached the rank of colonel and was chief of staff to the Congolese Army. Patrice Lumumba was elected prime minister of Congo in 1960 and in August of that year, with the support of the United States and Belgium, Mobutu led a military coup and ousted Lumumba from power.

Lumumba was arrested by Mobutu's soldiers and transferred to Elizabethville, Katanga, where he was murdered on 17th January, 1961. In the Congo crisis, the community of Katanga (which was ultimately ruled by Moise Tshombe) was seeking independence from the Congo.

They were declared separate and Lumumba looked to the UN for help in peace keeping. The UN made efforts to create peace and all was well. In 1961 fighting erupted between the Katanga troops and the noncombatant forces of the UN. In 1964 Moise Tshombe (leader of the outbreak) returned to Congo to become prime minister. Mobutu had ongoing support from the United States and Belgium throughout his rule.

November 1965, Mobutu staged another military coup to overthrow Moise Tshombe In the presidential election, Mobutu was the only candidate. This secured his position in power.

Mobuto’s Credo /Manifesto N’Sel Nationalism Revolution Authenticity

Voters were offered two ballot choices: green for hope, and red for chaos: Mobutu won with a vote of 10,131,699 to 157

Mobutu in Power October 1971: Mobutu established a policy of Africanization and restored the country name back to Zaire. Made a nationality law that abolished the use of European names for people and places. Exploited copper deposits.

He believed in a one party, anti-communitst dictatorship. Priests were warned that they would face 5 years' imprisonment if they were caught baptizing a Zairean child with a European name. Also Western attire and ties were banned.

Trade unions were consolidated into a single union. Popular Movement of the Revolution was the only political party allowed in Zaire. Trade unions were consolidated into a single union. Those who were not in support of Mobutu’s rule he dealt with through violence. Several military forces were set up, who had a sole purpose of protecting protect him He consolidated power by publically executing political rivals. He then switched to tactics of bribery. Mobutu had a very large personal fortune and it was just about equivalent to the country's foreign debt at the time. 1

Popular Movement of the Revolution: memberships became obligatory for all citizens. The major themes of this party were authenticity, revolution, and nationalism.

People were hung, tortured People were hung, tortured. One man has his eyes gouged out, his genitals were ripped off, and his limbs amputated one by one. Bribery: Mobutu would rotate members of his government, switching the cabinet roster constantly to ensure that no one would pose a threat to his rule. He also would arrest and sometimes torture members of the government, only to later pardon them and reward them with high office. By 1989, the government had to look to Belgium for loans.

People were left to starve and work in terrible conditions which meant sometimes going months without being paid while Mobutu had gigantic amounts of money. Also the nations roads were falling apart. Mobutu used the propaganda to create a heroic image of himself and ensure that others through of him as a god. The only thing that was truly done for the nation was the establishment of strong ties between Zaire and the US. The country was left in major debt while Mobutu gained riches. International relations: United States, Belgium, France and the Soviet Union.

Life was definitely not improved for the people of the country Life was definitely not improved for the people of the country. The evening news on television included an image of him descending through clouds from the heavens, portraits of him hung in many public places and government officials wore lapels bearing his portrait.

France: This was one of Zaire’s closest allies France: This was one of Zaire’s closest allies. They were opposed to conservative and federalist forces so they were in agreement with Mobutu’s policies. Soviet Union: Mobutu's relationship with the Soviet Union was frosty and tense. This was because Mobutu was very anti-communist. Also the two countries found themselves on opposing sides in the Angolan Civil War.

Picture 1: What the people had to wear, called an abacost Picture 1: What the people had to wear, called an abacost. Mobutu did not want people wearing suits and ties and other clothing. Picture 2: The currency of Zaire with a picture of Mobutu on it. Picture 3: Some of the living conditions under Mobutu’s rule. Picture 4: Mobutu is in a meeting in Washington, DC. with Richard Nixon; one of his foreign allies.

Destruction of Mobutu In November 1996 Mobutu issued an order forcing Tutsis to leave Zaire on penalty of death; they erupted in rebellion. May 1997: rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila forced Mobutu to flee the country. Mobutu went into temporary exile in Togo but lived mostly in Morocco. Laurent Kabila took over as president Tutsis had long opposed Mobutu, due to his open support for Rwandan Hutu extremists responsible for the Rwandan genocide in 1994 This was during the first Congo war. People were getting fed up with the way that Mobutu was treating the people and felt it was time for change. 3) Mobutu died in 1997 from prostate cancer. 4) He renames the country The Democratic Republic of Congo and was also considered a dictator. Picture: Where Mobutu was exiled to -The country was still facing ecomnoic problems under the leadership of Mobutu

After Mobutu’s rule, the country continued to face many coups and conflicts which are still going on today. The nation now as compared to the nation under Mobutu would probably be about the same in terms of being better off.

On the positive side, In 2006 the Congo held its first multi-party elections since independence in 1960.

When Mobutu was in control, the country was more at rest, because there was less coups going on and in the beginning people were happy with Mobutu’s rule.

As he continued on in power people began to see how badly they were being treated and how the country was becoming more and more destructive. So although their was less coups, the people had terrible living conditions. After Mobutu’s rule, the people may have had better living conditions under the president but there was way more unrest between the different groups in and around the country. In the end the nation basically ended up being the same now was it was under Mobutu’s rule.