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 recognised the right of the strongest. We have seen that the law was quite different for a white than for a black: accomodating 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 beleifs; 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” Click here to view newspaper article on Lumumba. Click here to view Time newspaper article on Lumumba.

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 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 kilometres into a remote bush, led to a clearing where graves had already been dug, and shot by a firing squad. Lumumba was killed last.

Independence 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 profitable 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.

Activity Either you agree that “Colonialism made Africa Poor and Dependant” or You think that “Colonialism is not responsible for Africa’s Problems”

Map of Africa You and your partner must create a “Colonialist’s map to Africa”, that we will look at in class on Tuesday April 17th The map will be a graphic organizer containing your perspective on Colonialism based on the King Leopold and Congo Independence lessons and the reading. Criteria: Your map should: i) be respectful ii) stimulate thought and discussion. iii) stress a particular idea, point of view concerning Colonialism

Map of Africa How are you going to do it? Use an Atlas and draw an outline of Africa on a blank piece of paper. Discuss with your partner, “what does Colonialism means to you”? What is your collective “point of view” Fill the Map of Africa with either words/drawings, sayings, ideas, images, people etc that depict your “point of view”. Be prepared to present and discuss this with the class.