1. Secession of Katanga

2. Focus for Contextualisation
Why did Katanga secede from independent Congo?
What were the immediate effects of this secession?
In what ways did the secession of Katanga develop an international dimension?
In what way was Ireland involved in the Secession of Katanga?

3. Belgium & Congo

4. Province of Katanga Katanga was the richest province in the Congo
Source of uranium used in atomic bombs
Mining companies had introduced, in some places, welfare programmes and education for its employees
By 1950, one-third of the entire population of the Congo was Christian
No educated native elite** N.B.

5. The Congo at Independence
Former Belgian colony
2.3 million square miles
75 times larger than Belgium
13 million native Congolese
100,000 white (mainly Belgian) settlers
Congo contained about 200 separate & distinct tribes (own language) = ‘Ethnic Groups’

6. Key Personalities: Belgian
King Baudouin
1930 – 1993
King of Belgium
‘Mwana Kitoko’
King Leopold II
1835 – 1909

7. Key Personalities: Congolese
Patrice Lumumba
1st leader of independent Congo (67 days) (MNC)
Moise Tshombe
1919 – 1969
Pro-Belgian leader of Katanga (Conakat Party)
Joseph Kasavubu
1910 – 1969
1st President of Republic of Congo
(Abako Party)

8. Independence Movements
ABAKO: tribal organisation based on support of Kongo people
CONAKAT: Led by Moise Tshombe, this Katangan group wanted to retain ties with Belgium and local self-government for Katanga
Congolese National Movement (MNC): Wanted a united, independent Congo. Congolese Nationalist movement, seeking a national, rather than tribal, support. Led by Patrice Lumumba

9. Independence Approaches
President General de Gaulle of France announced a new departure in 1958, opening up the possibility & choice of independence for French colonies
This would affect large parts of the African continent e.g. Morocco, Algeria, The Congo, Sudan etc.
Rioting broke out in Leopoldville in January 1959.
In response, Belgian authorities agreed to local elections and a promise of future independence.
120 political groups contested these elections, mostly along tribal lines of allegiance.
Only the MNC set a nationwide, electoral manifesto.

10. The ‘Roundtable Conference’ 18th – 27th January 1960
Kasavubu, Lumumba & Tshombe invited to Brussels to discuss the future of the Congo with Belgian Government

11. 1960: Independence of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
&
Secession of Katanga

13. 1960 – Congo declared free by Belgium
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province of Katanga attempted to secede – civil war
United Nations troops kept peace for four years
Former president of Katanga, Moise Tshombe, became prime minister in 1964

14. Independence of Congo & Secession of Katanga 1960 - 1965
A Chronology of Events, Personalities & Conflicts

16. June 1960 - Congo becomes independent Patrice Lumumba: Joseph Kasavubu: Prime Minister President

17. July 1960: Army Mutiny & Katangan Secession
Tshombe declares Katanga independent (secession) (11th July)
Congolese Army Mutiny (5th July)
Issue over no pay raise to army, while all other Government employees received a pay raise
Rank & file soldiers of Force Publique rebelled against Officer Corps (mainly foreigners)
Rioting & looting throughout Leopoldville.
‘Africanise’ the army: Armee Nationale Congolaise (ANC)
Belgian forces brought in, without permission, to protect Belgian settles and mining interests
Tshombe declared Katanga independent a couple of days later
Supported by Belgian troops (6,000) & powerful business & industrial interests (companies)
 “Seceding from chaos“: Tshombe
Miltarised police force & mercenaries
Luba province in north of Katanga seceded from Katanga itself

18. September – December 1960: Chaos in Congolese Government
September 1960: Lumumba dismissed as P.M.
December 1960: Lumumba arrested

19. February: Lumumba killed
August: UN forces begin disarming the Katangese military

21. Katanga ends Secession

22. Kasavubu & Tshombe
In a bid to unite the country, President Kasavubu appointed Tshombe (former President of secessionist Katanga) as Prime Minister of the Congo

23. The Mobutu Coup
Kasavubu & Tshombe ousted in military coup d’etát by General Désiré Mobutu
Mobutu renames the country ‘Zaire’ (1971)
Mobutu declares himself ‘Mobutu Sese Seko’
Katanga Province re-named ‘Shaba’
Ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo for three decades