UNIT 2.2 CONGO
Intro
- focus= comparison of developments after independence of two African countries
> Congo = became focus of attention in Cold War (mineral resources & strategic position
central Africa)
> Tanzania (application of African socialism showing mixed results)
Congo Timeline
> 1960 June Congo became independent
> 1960 July Province of Katanga secede
> 1960 September Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba jailed
> 1961 Patrice Lumumba murdered
> 1963 Katanga reunited with rest of Congo
> 1965 General Joseph Mobutu became President after coup
> 1971 Congo renamed Zaire
> 1977 Rebellion occurred in Shaba
> 1978 Second rebellion in Shaba put down
> 1984 Mobuto re-elected president in elections
Belgian Rule
- Belgium ruled harshly over Congo = paid high taxes & forced labour + punishment
not meeting work quotas // disobedience common
- Paternalism = policy used + believed Africans should be treated like children &
shouldn’t be allowed representation/responsibility in govt
- Education = few secondary schools + no higher education for Africans + primary
schools run by religious organisations
- Political parties & independent newspapers banned + no political opportunities given
to Africans + no representation at central govt level + economic wealth controlled by
foreigners + most were poor
Legacies of colonialism
- Belgian colonial systems provided no political opportunity
- Ruled through colonial administrators
- Congolese treated as children incapable of self-rule (paternalism)
- 1950s = native councils set up (gave limited role to few Africans in local affairs) + no
representation at central govt level
- No political parties allowed
1959 Uprisings against Belgium
- Belgians little intention granting independence post-WWII
- Planned period of transition = implemented over 10 years
- 1959 = incidents unrest broke out + venting frustration of no group leader/leader
responsible
- Uprisings led colonialists negotiate with Congolese representatives
- Round table conference held Jan 1960, Brussels = leaders invited (Patrice
Lumumba, Joseph Kasavubu, Moise Tshombe)
- 1st time Belgians consulted Congolese
,SAGS SCOPE STARTS
1960 June Elections & independence
- Multi-party elections held = 120 political parties contested + most voted regionally + 1
party able to get nation-wide support - still not majority + no one won clear majority
- Independence = 1960 June 30
- Lumumba = prime minister + kasavubu = president
- Belgians handed independence without helping prepare for sudden change
- Political parties formed quickly + only support of singular ethnic group
Tool of Cold War
- Conditions in country exploited by USA & USSR = further rivalry
- Vulnerable due to unstable foundations for independence (oppressive rule) + divided
country after elections due to power struggle
- Lumumba asked USSR assistance to defeat Kasavubu & Tshombe (provided food,
military equipment & military advisors)
- Lumumba’s acceptance angered USA + felt danger to capitalism + CIA ordered
involvement in assasination
Congo Timeline
- Jan 1959 = violent riots in leopoldville (capital) + Belgians agree to end colonial rule
then try go back on agreement
- Oct 1959 = riots erupt in north + Lumumba arrested for inciting violence, sentenced 6
months prison
- May 1960 = independence elections announced + 120 parties (divided, different
ethnic groups)
- 30 June 1960 = independence granted + Belgians retained control over army &
economy + Kasavubu president + Lumumba prime minister
- 5 July 1960 = Army (Force Publique) revolts against white officers + replaced with
Congolese officers + Mobutu promoted to rank of Army Chief of Staff
- 11 July 1960 = Katanga (mineral rich province) secedes from Congo (Tshombe
declares independent state) + Belgian sent troops sent to help independence +
Lumumba calls UN to assist removing Belgian presence (violates independence &
destabilised country)
- 15 August 1960 = after removing Belgian presence UN refused to help Lumumba put
down Katanga rebellion —> invites USSR to help + military assistance given =
massacre of 100s civilians —> Lumumba’s actions enter Congo into Cold War rivalry
- 18 August 1960 = USA enraged by USSR involvement + CIA involved + Eisenhower
authorises Lumumba’s assasination
- 5 September 1960 = Kasavubu announces Lumumba no longer prime minister +
Lumumba announces Kasavubu dismal as president = confusion & chaos spread
- 14 September 1960 = Coup d’etat + Kasavubu president
- November 1965 = Mobutu takes control another coup + support from CIA &
Congolese Army
Patrice Lumumba
- wanted complete independence + control over resources to enhance living conditions
, - wanted to democratise organisations + belief of Pan-Africanism (unity of Africans,
eliminate colonial rule & white supremacy)
- some didn’t share idea of united congo + believed in federation (each state make
own decision)
- Kasavubu = federation based on ethnicity + Tshombe = loose federation of states
- Congolese preferred to support ethnic leader than national leader —> Lumumba
didn’t have much support nationally & internationally
Civil War
- 5 days after independence, units of army mutinied + demanded removal of Belgian
officers
- Violent conflict broke out in country + Belgian property & civilians attacked
- 2 provinces broke away = threatened unity of state
- Katanga (back by Belgian mining interests) —> Tshombe declared independence +
50% of local revenue came from mines (mainly copper)
- Kasai (backed by USSR)
- Belgians sent troops to Congo to protect property & nationals + seen as attempt to
restore colonial control + suspicion fueled as they controlled copper mines in
Katanga
- Lumumba appealed to UN for military assistance to reunite country + get Belgians to
withdraw —> UN sent forces but aims unachieved + influenced by USA = UN
unwilling to use force in Katanga
1961 Lumumba’s Assassination
- Murdered in captivity + Jan 1961 (7 months after independence)
- Mobutu, Tshombe, CIA, Belgian govt suspected involvement
Views of Lumumba
Positive
- martyr by communists globally + hero in Africa + referred to as ‘best son of Africa’ &
‘Lincoln of the Congo’
- only leader with idea of national unity
- believed could’ve held Congo together & prevented foreign exploitation of resources
- bold & decisive leader
- courageous & dignified through torture
Negative
- lack of experience caused judgement errors (speech criticising Belgium
independence day celebrations —> turned Belgians against Congo)
- turning to USSR assistance —> west believed was pro-communism
Mobutu’s rise to power
- Came during Congo crisis 1960-1964
- Army took important role in Congo + tasked with preventing secession of mineral rich
provinces Katanga & Kasai
- Politicians struggled with governing contested state
- 1965 —> Tshombe (prime minister) & Kasavubu (president) wrestled for power =
during deadlock Mobutu launched successful military coup-d’etat + with US support
(ally against soviet ambitions in Africa)
Intro
- focus= comparison of developments after independence of two African countries
> Congo = became focus of attention in Cold War (mineral resources & strategic position
central Africa)
> Tanzania (application of African socialism showing mixed results)
Congo Timeline
> 1960 June Congo became independent
> 1960 July Province of Katanga secede
> 1960 September Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba jailed
> 1961 Patrice Lumumba murdered
> 1963 Katanga reunited with rest of Congo
> 1965 General Joseph Mobutu became President after coup
> 1971 Congo renamed Zaire
> 1977 Rebellion occurred in Shaba
> 1978 Second rebellion in Shaba put down
> 1984 Mobuto re-elected president in elections
Belgian Rule
- Belgium ruled harshly over Congo = paid high taxes & forced labour + punishment
not meeting work quotas // disobedience common
- Paternalism = policy used + believed Africans should be treated like children &
shouldn’t be allowed representation/responsibility in govt
- Education = few secondary schools + no higher education for Africans + primary
schools run by religious organisations
- Political parties & independent newspapers banned + no political opportunities given
to Africans + no representation at central govt level + economic wealth controlled by
foreigners + most were poor
Legacies of colonialism
- Belgian colonial systems provided no political opportunity
- Ruled through colonial administrators
- Congolese treated as children incapable of self-rule (paternalism)
- 1950s = native councils set up (gave limited role to few Africans in local affairs) + no
representation at central govt level
- No political parties allowed
1959 Uprisings against Belgium
- Belgians little intention granting independence post-WWII
- Planned period of transition = implemented over 10 years
- 1959 = incidents unrest broke out + venting frustration of no group leader/leader
responsible
- Uprisings led colonialists negotiate with Congolese representatives
- Round table conference held Jan 1960, Brussels = leaders invited (Patrice
Lumumba, Joseph Kasavubu, Moise Tshombe)
- 1st time Belgians consulted Congolese
,SAGS SCOPE STARTS
1960 June Elections & independence
- Multi-party elections held = 120 political parties contested + most voted regionally + 1
party able to get nation-wide support - still not majority + no one won clear majority
- Independence = 1960 June 30
- Lumumba = prime minister + kasavubu = president
- Belgians handed independence without helping prepare for sudden change
- Political parties formed quickly + only support of singular ethnic group
Tool of Cold War
- Conditions in country exploited by USA & USSR = further rivalry
- Vulnerable due to unstable foundations for independence (oppressive rule) + divided
country after elections due to power struggle
- Lumumba asked USSR assistance to defeat Kasavubu & Tshombe (provided food,
military equipment & military advisors)
- Lumumba’s acceptance angered USA + felt danger to capitalism + CIA ordered
involvement in assasination
Congo Timeline
- Jan 1959 = violent riots in leopoldville (capital) + Belgians agree to end colonial rule
then try go back on agreement
- Oct 1959 = riots erupt in north + Lumumba arrested for inciting violence, sentenced 6
months prison
- May 1960 = independence elections announced + 120 parties (divided, different
ethnic groups)
- 30 June 1960 = independence granted + Belgians retained control over army &
economy + Kasavubu president + Lumumba prime minister
- 5 July 1960 = Army (Force Publique) revolts against white officers + replaced with
Congolese officers + Mobutu promoted to rank of Army Chief of Staff
- 11 July 1960 = Katanga (mineral rich province) secedes from Congo (Tshombe
declares independent state) + Belgian sent troops sent to help independence +
Lumumba calls UN to assist removing Belgian presence (violates independence &
destabilised country)
- 15 August 1960 = after removing Belgian presence UN refused to help Lumumba put
down Katanga rebellion —> invites USSR to help + military assistance given =
massacre of 100s civilians —> Lumumba’s actions enter Congo into Cold War rivalry
- 18 August 1960 = USA enraged by USSR involvement + CIA involved + Eisenhower
authorises Lumumba’s assasination
- 5 September 1960 = Kasavubu announces Lumumba no longer prime minister +
Lumumba announces Kasavubu dismal as president = confusion & chaos spread
- 14 September 1960 = Coup d’etat + Kasavubu president
- November 1965 = Mobutu takes control another coup + support from CIA &
Congolese Army
Patrice Lumumba
- wanted complete independence + control over resources to enhance living conditions
, - wanted to democratise organisations + belief of Pan-Africanism (unity of Africans,
eliminate colonial rule & white supremacy)
- some didn’t share idea of united congo + believed in federation (each state make
own decision)
- Kasavubu = federation based on ethnicity + Tshombe = loose federation of states
- Congolese preferred to support ethnic leader than national leader —> Lumumba
didn’t have much support nationally & internationally
Civil War
- 5 days after independence, units of army mutinied + demanded removal of Belgian
officers
- Violent conflict broke out in country + Belgian property & civilians attacked
- 2 provinces broke away = threatened unity of state
- Katanga (back by Belgian mining interests) —> Tshombe declared independence +
50% of local revenue came from mines (mainly copper)
- Kasai (backed by USSR)
- Belgians sent troops to Congo to protect property & nationals + seen as attempt to
restore colonial control + suspicion fueled as they controlled copper mines in
Katanga
- Lumumba appealed to UN for military assistance to reunite country + get Belgians to
withdraw —> UN sent forces but aims unachieved + influenced by USA = UN
unwilling to use force in Katanga
1961 Lumumba’s Assassination
- Murdered in captivity + Jan 1961 (7 months after independence)
- Mobutu, Tshombe, CIA, Belgian govt suspected involvement
Views of Lumumba
Positive
- martyr by communists globally + hero in Africa + referred to as ‘best son of Africa’ &
‘Lincoln of the Congo’
- only leader with idea of national unity
- believed could’ve held Congo together & prevented foreign exploitation of resources
- bold & decisive leader
- courageous & dignified through torture
Negative
- lack of experience caused judgement errors (speech criticising Belgium
independence day celebrations —> turned Belgians against Congo)
- turning to USSR assistance —> west believed was pro-communism
Mobutu’s rise to power
- Came during Congo crisis 1960-1964
- Army took important role in Congo + tasked with preventing secession of mineral rich
provinces Katanga & Kasai
- Politicians struggled with governing contested state
- 1965 —> Tshombe (prime minister) & Kasavubu (president) wrestled for power =
during deadlock Mobutu launched successful military coup-d’etat + with US support
(ally against soviet ambitions in Africa)
