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Summary Congo (Zaire)
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This document discusses Congo and it's fight for independence from Belgium.
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Congo (Zaire)⁃ Congo was colonised by Belgium (they use French as a language)
⁃ the Belgium king = king Leopold ii
⁃ Congo was one of the first countries to be colonised in modern colonism
⁃ king Leopold took Congo for his own personal possession
⁃ Belgium rule in Congo was extremely brutal
⁃ Belgium rule was well known for extreme taxation and cheap labour
⁃ they put paternalism into practice as a form of admission
⁃ there were very few secondary schools during colonial rule
⁃ it was deliberately made to make Congolese people to be poorly educated
⁃ after WWII Belgium’s were committed to stopping african nationalism from
spreading
⁃ authorities did everything to crush the spirit of nationalism
⁃ until very late in Congo, political parties in Congo were banned
⁃ african newspapers and tv were not allowed
⁃ it was the main median for information
⁃ means through which the government wanted to mussel people
⁃ in 1959 numerous riots erupted in Congo
⁃ it was no longer possible for people to keep quiet
⁃ caught the government by surprise
⁃ the government was ill prepared
⁃ this became uncontrollable
⁃ the Belgium government had no choice but for them to leave and accept
this
⁃ the rapidity at which Congo gained their independence was a problem
⁃ this period was around 6 months
⁃ the new government had a hard time
⁃ the reason why the Belgium’s withdrew hurriedly
⁃ they thought if they left quickly, it would be impossible for Congolese
wouldn’t be able to chart their own destiny
⁃ then they would have to call back the Belgium’s to help them
⁃ if they got called back, they would have direct control over Congo (neo
colonism)
⁃ but they had to take over, no matter how ill prepared they were
⁃ the sudden change in politics saw numerous black political parties being
formed abruptly
, ⁃ the reforms in Congo were formed around regionalism
⁃ regionalism was a huge problem
⁃ multiple political parties were formed = the country was infested with
endless political parties
⁃ this is not good for the country
⁃ there were around 120 political parties were formed
⁃ even a quarter of that would be too much
⁃ first election in May 1960
⁃ optimistic and hopeful that independence would bring changes in their
fortunes
⁃ Congo does have ingredients for a fledging economy
⁃ all this fizzled into nothing
⁃ all the ingredients: (Angola has nothing on Congo)
⁃ has vast mineral resources (of all sorts)
⁃ diamonds
⁃ gold
⁃ copper
⁃ cobalt
⁃ tin
⁃ tantalum
⁃ lithium
⁃ MNC (political party)
⁃ Patrice Lumumba
⁃ it came in top in the election
⁃ Lumumba was very nationalistic in his approach
⁃ now that he was in charge, he wanted to create a unitary state
⁃ he was communist in his approach
⁃ after elections:
⁃ formed a coalition government
⁃ he invited even the defeated political parties in to form a government
⁃ coalition governments are not stable
⁃ they spend a lot of time arguing yet the masses out there are hungry and
waiting for the promises made to them
⁃ Lumumba became the prime minister of Congo (head of government)
⁃ joseph kasavubu - president (head of state)
⁃ prime minister holds more power
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