The colonization of Congo was precipitated by the persistently violent and cunning efforts of King Leopold II as well as the European explorer, Henry Morton Stanley. [i] By 1884-5 as evidenced by the Berlin West Africa Conference, European states recognized Leopold as the sovereign ruler over the demarcated “Congo Free State” region. [ii] However, the atrocities committed to the people in the Congo were so immense and severe that the international outcry could not be ignored, and Belgium took over the region from 1908-1960 with a highly paternal state of governance. [iii] There was no legislation and chiefs were used to recruit labour and collect taxes. [iv] The people engaged in acts of resistance throughout this period and were met with further suppression. [v] With the decolonization movement sweeping through the continent, the resistance movement in Congo also gained momentum. With the break-out of riots and the threatening fear of a violent overthrow the Belgians unexpectedly decided to withdraw and grant Congo its independence. [vi]
Joseph Kasavubu became president over the Republic of the Congo with Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister. However, the new nation was soon embroiled in a civil war that resulted in the assassination of Lumumba. The conflict was exacerbated by the Cold War and by Belgium’s interference.
Endnotes
[i] The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Congo Free State”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, accessed 14 July 2018, https://www.britannica.com/place/Congo-Free-State. ↵
[ii] Ibid ↵
[iii] The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Belgian Congo”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, accessed 14 July 2018, https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgian-Congo. ↵
[iv] Ibid ↵
[v] Ibid ↵
[vi] Ibid ↵