1. Decolonization in the Belgian Congo

2. Belgian Congo Key Points Illustrates the extent of exploitation
Nature of Belgian Colonialism
Impact of the Cold War

3. Congo Pre-Colonial History Kongo Kingdom Dealing with the Portuguese
Spread of Christianity
Atlantic Slave Trade
Kongo supply of slaves to Brazil

4. Belgian Colonialism Congo Free State 1885-1908
Charter Companies: Rubber production, forced labor, and exploitation
1908 Bring the Congo Under Belgium Government
Size 1 million square miles
Administrative Divisions Léopoldville, Equateur, Orientale and Katanga,

5. Economy Mineral Production after WWI
Copper and cobalt in Katanga, diamond in Kasai, gold in Ituri
Private companies: Belgian Société Générale
Expansion of transport: rail lines
Congo as leading producer of copper ore (80,000 tons of copper in 1926)
Recruitment of workers from villages
Thousands of people were transferred to the Katanga region
lands were appropriated and given to White settlers (colons) to produce palm oil and cotton
Racial segregation

6. Colonial Policies
Provision of education and health care by Roman Catholic Church
Education was limited to European children
African children began to enter schools in 1950s to produce clerks, typist
The highest level was primary school
The first university was established in 1954
Relegation of Congolese to lower ranks in the army and the civil service

7. Congolese Nationalism
The nationalist movement reflected the Congo’s regional divisions and its different cultural traditions

8. Western Congo
The west was the heart of the Congo Kingdom inhabited by Ba Kongo speakers a
The political party was called Association Des Bakongo based in the city of Leopoldville
Leader Joseph Kasavubu
Strong Christian influences
The activities of the messianic preacher: Simon Kimbangu
Spent 30 years preaching in the region and established an independent church

9. Northern Region
Nationalist movement was dominated by small educated class and civil servants
The political organization was called Mouvemenet Nationale Populaire which was more radical
Its leader was Patrice Lumumba who was a post-office worker

10. Patrice Lumumba

11. Political Movement in Katanga
Katanga the richest region
Confederation Des Associations Tribale Du Katanga
Leader Moise Tshombe
A businessman who was a descendant from royal family in Lunda
Conservative and strong opponent of Lumumba’s radical politics
Supported by European business

12. Transfer of power Political Reforms in late1950s
Conflict over Political System: Federation or Union
Round Table Conference and Transfer of Power in June 1960
Belgium did not prepare a gradual transfer of power
More than 21 parties competing for elections
Election Results: No Party Won a Decisive Majority
Coalition Government: Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister
Joseph Kasavubu as President

13. Post-independence Crises in Congo
Challenges: lack of experienced politicians and bureaucracy
Army Mutiny in Kinshasa against European Officers
Moise Tshombe and secession of Katanga with the support of European settlers
Ethnic violence
United Nations resolution: Rejection of Katanga claims
Split of the government between KasaVubu and Lumumba
Placing Lumumba under house arrest by colonel Joseph Désiré Mobutu

14. Lumumba attempt to escape and his capture
In January 1961, he was flown to Katanga and handed to his arch enemy Tshombe
Lumumba was secretly executed

16. Lumumba’s assassination as a direct product of Cold War climate.
Considered as an ally of the Soviet Union
His enemies: Belgian government, European business, CIA
In 2002 Belgium officially apologized
A 1975 congressional investigation of the affair found that:
In an August 1960 cable to CIA headquarters, an officer in the field called Lumumba a ''commie" and a “Soviet pawn.” The head of the CIA cabled back: “Lumumba had to go”
Lumumba’s assassination led to a big outcry throughout Africa and the third world where was highly revered
His family was invited to Egypt by Nasser, where they grew up and

17. Continuation of Rebellions 1964–65.
Katanga province was re-absorbed and rebellions ended
Shortly after that army colonel Joseph Désiré Mobutu seized power through a military coup
Western support of Mobutu: presented himself as an anti-Communist
His campaign of Congolese "authenticity".
Abandoning European names: Léopoldville was renamed as Kinshasa Elisabethville Lubumbashi Stanleyville Kisangani
Renamed the Congo the republic of Zaïre
Development of culture and music: Zairian dance music

19. 1970s establishment of a one party rule Mouvement populaire de la Révolution 
Increased repression and authoritarianism
Financial support from World Bank and IMF
Mismanagement and corruption
Mobutu reportedly embezzled $12 billions

20. Decline of Western Support after Soviet Union and end of the Cold War
Rebellions in the countryside: Laurent-Desire Kabila
In 1997, Mobutu was overthrown by Kabila
Kabila became president and renamed Zaïre as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
 Assassination of Kabila in 2001
Succeeded by his son Joseph Kabila
Continuation of civil wars