By 1895 the British press started to expose Leopold IIs atrocities in Congo. [11], Although the Congo Free State was not a Belgian colony, Belgium was its chief beneficiary in terms of trade and the employment of its citizens. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What has been described as an Apartheid-like system also existed in that the mobility of Africans, but not of Europeans, was restricted and curfews applied to the former. Arguably, in comparison with other colonial powers in Africa, Belgium did less to prepare its overseas subjects for political independence, investing little in education and training, and extracted the riches of its colonies at enormous human cost. Although Great Britain held several, Belgium, Intelligence and Security Agencies, http://www.diplomatie.be/fr/archives/archives.asp, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/belgiums-african-colonies. After the end of the war, the Belgian government tried to exchange these territories against the left bank of the Congo River mouth, which was in Portuguese hands. [21] The agreement was approved by the Belgian parliament on 13 July 1931. King Leopold's Legacy. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 2023 . What were the former British colonies in Africa? Belgium controlled 3 colonies and 3 concessions during its history, the Belgian Congo (modern DRC) from 1908 to 1960, and Ruanda-Urundi (Rwanda and Burundi) from 1922 to 1962. The Rwanda genocide of 1994 helped exacerbate ethnic and political tensions in the Congo. On many occasions, the interests of the government and private enterprise became closely tied, and the state helped companies break strikes and remove other barriers raised by the indigenous population. With the exception of Brandenburg-Prussia's short-lived attempt to gain a foothold on the West African coast and to participate in the 17th-century transatlantic slave trade, German colonialism began only in the 1880s. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Precolonial Rwanda under the monarchy was highly stratified. It was the activities of these extreme groups that led to the various episodes of genocide that reached appalling heights in 1994 with the killing of nearly one million people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, by extreme Hutus. While some Africans initially welcomed European rule, others opposed it from the start. The new leader signed a peace treaty with the rebel groups and appointed four vice presidents hailing from former rebel groups. It also had a small concession in China and was a co-administrator of the Tangier International Zone in Morocco. Harris, Joseph E. 1998. Besides the cold war rivalry, the other main reason for killing Lumumba and supporting the secession in the provinces of Katanga and Kasai was for Belgians to secure controlling interests in the rich mineral resources of the Congo. "Africa: Belgian Colonies We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Ethnic Conflict. Foreign Policy No. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. On January 17, 1961, the government of Moise Tshombe in Katanga, with the full support of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), murdered Lumumba and two of his associates in cold blood. They used civil disobedience, strikes, and civil unrest against the Belgian colonialists. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The Belgian colonial empire consisted of three African colonies possessed by Belgium between 1901 to 1962. On reaching Kinshasa in May 1997, Kabila declared himself president and changed the name of Zaire back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1960, as the result of a widespread and increasingly radical pro-independence movement, the Congo achieved independence, becoming the Republic of Congo-Lopoldville under Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Kasa-Vubu. King Leopold II and the Belgians extend their military rule over the much desired Congo Basin in Central Africa. As the strategic importance of Mobutu disappeared with the end of the cold war, little or no attention was paid to the Congo. The Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company (ABIR), among others, used force and brutality to extract profit from the territory. France began to rule a large territory in the west and north. Their refusal led Leopold to create a state under his own personal rule. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The Portuguese established a relationship with the king of Kongo but stayed in the modern Angolan coastal areas. As part of the Treaty of Versailles, the major part of German East Africa was handed over to British control but Ruanda-Urundi, twice the size of Belgium but only about 2 percent of the size of the Congo, was confirmed as a Belgian colony by a League of Nations Mandate in 1924, later renewed as a United Nations Trust Territory. (art. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Idi Amin became the president of Uganda in January 1971 after a military coup removed the elected leader, Milton Obote, and he, Colonialism, Internal The Belgians even took the few leadership positions that the Hutus had and gave them to the Tutsis. New York: Barnes and Nobles. Belgium created two colonies in Africa: the entities now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of Zaire) and the Republic of Rwanda , previously Ruanda-Urundi, a former German African colony that was given to Belgium to administer after the defeat of Germany in World War I . Belgian native policy, which had rigidified the ethnic boundaries between Tutsi and Hutu and consequently had exacerbated the ethnic identity of these groups, was largely responsible for the intensification of ethnic rivalry between these groups after the end of foreign rule. Contents1 How did Belgium colonize Africa?2 Was [] Lumumba was assassinated within a few months of becoming Prime Minister. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". On the Congo Free State's own domains, as well as on the vast tracks of land that had been conceded to private companies, brutal and repressive practices took the lives of large numbers of Africansthough exact figures are impossible to establish. In 1877, the European country Belgium and King Leopold colonized the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congo survived mainly through the king's personal funds. In 1865 he succeeded his father, Leopold I, to the Belgian throne. Hutus went on a rampage, killing Tutsis in their midst with the aim of exterminating them. What are the most attractive personality traits in a man? Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Kanyandago, Peter, ed. The main contenders in this region, particularly France and the United Kingdom, hoped to reap the benefits of Leopold's "whim," which, in their opinion, would not last long. Consequently, colonial policy was determined by a small group of persons, in particular the minister of colonies, a handful of top civil servants in the Ministry of Colonies, some prominent Catholic ecclesiastics, and the leaders of the private companies that were investing increasing amounts of capital in the colony. Colonialism in Africa. After several unsuccessful attempts in different parts of Asia and Africa, Leopold developed a keen interest in Central Africa. Intermarriage was not prohibited in this caste system. Following the Rwandan Revolution, the mandate became the independent states of Burundi and Rwanda in 1962.[1]. He was, in fact, so successful in making the Congo profitable that at the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 the French struck a secret deal with Leopold that they would only support his territorial claim if he agreed "never again to employ Stanley in Africa."[2]. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. As early as 1860, he was urging his state to imitate its neighbors in acquiring overseas territory, "extend beyond the sea whenever an opportunity is offered," he said, "you will find there precious outlets for your products, food for your commerce and a still better position in the great European family. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner. EUROPEAN EFFORTS TO REINVENT OVERSEA, colony, any nonself-governing territory subject to the jurisdiction of a usually distant country. ed. [20] Although Belgian companies invested in Tianjin, especially in the city's tram system, the Belgian concession remained inactive. This plan failed to materialize, and finally, on May 30, 1919, according to the Orts-Milner Agreement (named after its Belgian and British negotiators), Belgium's spoils of war only consisted of two small territories in the Great Lakes region bordering the immense Belgian Congo, namely Rwanda and Burundi (their ancient names being Ruanda and Urundi). The Belgians were always somewhat indifferent towards their colonies, which were not regarded as a vital aspect of their national identity or place in the world, despite the value that Leopold had attached to them. How do I move data from one tab to another in Excel? Leopold II personally accumulated considerable wealth from exports of rubber and ivory acquired at gunpoint. The boundaries of Colonialism, like those of many literary eras, are difficult to draw. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. ." Anstey, Roger. Belgium, a constitutional monarchy, gained its independence in 1830 from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. These organizations, controlled by the king himself, had in fact a commercial purpose. In 1962, it got its independence from Belgium. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. By the time independent Belgium might have been in a position to consider an overseas empire, major imperial powers such as the United Kingdom and France already had the most economically promising territories for colonization within their spheres of influence. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Britain established control over many parts of Africa, including Sudan and much of the south. In 1908, in order to defuse an international outcry against the brutality of the Congo Free State, the Belgian government agreed to annex it as a colony, named the Belgian Congo. Although a few attempts were made by the first king, Leopold I (1790-1865), these were not successful. Despite Mobutus dictatorship, relative peace reigned during most of his regime. Mobutu in his bid to stay in power for life did not build a strong army. Supporters of the second option led by Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961) won the day and the Belgian Congo became independent on June 30, 1960. 1998. When France, in the early 1880s, started to develop a political hold along the banks of the lower Congo, the AIC (which, in the meantime, had hired the British explorer Henry Morton Stanley (18411904) as its local manager) also began to conclude treaties whereby African chiefs recognized the association's sovereignty. No foreign troops were to be allowed on the concession and Guatemalan troops were to garrison two forts that were to be built near the projected new town. Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450. . Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony (coextensive with the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. Bibliographie historique du Zare l'poque coloniale (18801960): Travaux publis en 19601996. It was established by the Belgian parliament to replace the previous, privately owned Congo Free State, after international outrage over abuses there brought pressure for supervision and accountability. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. In the 1500s, Portugal colonized the present-day west . Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. The history of Colonialism as a policy or practice go, Colonialism, Internal Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Handelman, Howard. When Belgium became a nation in 1830, it had almost no tradition of long-distance trade or colonial activity. Keen on establishing Belgium as an imperial power, he led the first European efforts to develop the Congo River basin, making possible the formation in 1885 of the . In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Their ambivalence resulted in Leopolds establishing a colony himself. Colonialism is the act by which a country or state exerts control and domination over another country or state. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Starting in the 1880s, in what became known as the "Scramble for Africa," European countries raced to occupy the continent, seeking economic and strategic gains. This empire was unlike those of the major European imperial powers, since 98 percent of it was just one colony (about 76 times larger than Belgium)the Belgian Congoand that had originated as the private property of the country's king, King Leopold II, rather than being gained . When Laurent Kabila drove him from power in 1997, Mobutus wealth deposited in foreign banks was in excess of $4 billion. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/belgiums-african-colonies, "Belgium's African Colonies (April 27, 2023). Congo, mythes et ralits: 100 ans d'histoire. This led to him being remembered in Belgium today as the "Builder-King." Indeed, in the beginning, the Congo Free State seemed to be an unviable enterprise. An agreement was reached between the Belgian and Chinese governments in August 1929 to return the concession to China. ." Belgium created two colonies in Africa: the entities now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of Zaire) and the Republic of Rwanda, previously Ruanda-Urundi, a former German African colony that was given to Belgium to administer after the defeat of Germany in World War I.. Did Portugal colonize Africa? Although forced labor, repression, and a "color bar" (a form of racial segregation) persisted till the very end of their domination, the Belgians made serious efforts to promote indigenous wellbeing, particularly during the 1950s, by developing a network of health services and primary schools. [12], Belgian rule in the Congo was based on the "colonial trinity" (trinit coloniale) of state, missionary and private company interests. However, when independence came, the territories were ill-prepared for self-governance since little effort had been made to train and equip an African leadership. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". These kingdoms, especially the Kingdom of Kongo, were comparably wealthy, and when the standard of living is high, people tend to get along well. Why did they cut off hands in the Congo? * As many as 10 million people are estimated to have died in Congo from killings, famine and disease . From the 16th to the 17th centuries, the First French colonial empire stretched from a total area at its peak in 1680 to over 10,000,000 km 2 (3,900,000 sq mi), the second largest empire in the world at the time behind only the Spanish Empire.During the 19th and 20th centuries, the French colonial empire was the second largest colonial empire in the world only behind the British Empire; it . Finally, the constant interventions of the Belgians in the affairs of their former colonies of Congo and Rwanda have made ethnic and political rivalries worse. On July 14, the United Nations Security Council authorized a force to help to establish order in the Congo, but this force was unable to bring the seceded Katanga province to order. In April of 1885 Belgium's parliament made Leopold the sovereign ruler of this new "state," called the Congo Free State, incorporating all lands not directly occupied by Africans. They could also cheaply receive slaves and ivory and sell it at a very high price making a huge profit. King Leopold II of Belgium attempted to persuade the Belgian government to support colonial expansion around the then-largely unexploited Congo Basin. Map of Africa in 1910. The killing stopped only when Paul Kagame, with the help of Uganda, led a Tutsi army that drove the Hutu-led military into exile in neighboring Congo. But from 1895 on, the Congo Free State, which Leopold ruled as an absolute monarch, was saved from bankruptcy by the growing demand for rubber. These conflicts resulted in many wars and episodes of genocide. The French first began colonizing Africa in the 17th century, although they did not start having a significant presence on the continent until the 19th century. Retrieved April 27, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/belgiums-african-colonies. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Other notable empires included the Luba empire, founded in the sixteenth century and centered around Lakes Kisale and Upemba, located in central Shaba; the Lunda kingdom of Mwata, founded in the fifteenth century and centered in southwestern Congo; and the Kuba empire of the Shonga people, founded in the seventeenth century and centered around the Kasai and Sankura rivers in southern Congo. Very little money was invested in educationwhich was left to missionaries, mainly Roman Catholic, and consisted of basic literacy and numeracy. Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450. . Why does an iron rod become a magnet when current is passed through a coil of wire wrapped around the rod? Kabilas inability to disarm the Hutu militia and to share power with his former Tutsi allies led to war with his allies. Egypt was also under colonialism, but it did have a unique history . Through the Royal Trust he left most of his property to the nation. Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium: Centre d'histoire de l'Afrique de l'universit catholique de Louvain, 1996. Paris: Duculot, 1989. The territory was granted independence in 1962, as the separate countries of Rwanda and Burundi in 1962, bringing the Belgian colonial empire to an end. When did Belgium colonize Congo? Despite the modest improvements in the lives of the Congolese, the Belgians created two separate societies in the Congo: the whites and the natives. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. The Belgian colonial administration built some schools, railways, roads, plantations, mines, industrial areas, and airports. The most notable of these empires was the Kingdom of Kongo, which was founded in the fourteenth century and centered around present-day western Congo and northern Angola. New York: Penguin. The history of Colonialism as a policy or practice go, Amin, Idi c. 1925-2003 Christian missionaries were very successful in the Congo, where the Catholic Church is one of the largest in Africa (approximately 30 million members, or 55 percent of the population). Congo is a multiethnic country with about two hundred ethnic groups. Sadowski, Yahya. If this small European country nevertheless succeeded . The Congolese petty bourgeoisie remained embryonic: local entrepreneurs or proprietors were almost nonexistent. Belgium is a small country in northwest Europe that joined Europe's race for colonies in the late 19th century. The Belgian concession was proclaimed on 7 November 1900 and spanned some 100 hectares (250 acres). From the late 1920s, some important mining companies had also developed a paternalistic policy aimed at stabilizing and controlling their labor force (Congo had one of the largest wage labor contingents in Africa). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Belgian Congo (French: Congo belge, pronounced [ko bl]; Dutch: Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa between 1908 and 1960 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). N'Daywel Nziem, Isidore. The people of the Congo were forced to labor for valued resources, including rubber and ivory, to personally enrich Leopold. Cawthorne, Nigel. European traders came to the new country, which was not a colony in the normal sense, but essentially the personal possession of King Leopold, to obtain beeswax, coffee, fruits, ivory, minerals, palm oil, and especially rubber. It was designated as a United Nations trust territory, still under Belgian administration, until 1962, when it developed into the independent states of Rwanda and Burundi. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The main aim of these so-called volus in resisting the Belgian colonial administration was to redress the gross inequality. Revolts and violence against Tutsi, known as the Rwandan Revolution, occurred in the events leading to independence. (Colonizing other peoples, regardless of the justification . Autocratic rule did not need to find ways of negotiating how different factions could cooperate within a sustainable, participatory system of governance or access a fair share of resources. The scramble for colonies. No democratic institutions were established. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 2006 a new constitution was written and approved for the Third Republic, and elections were conducted with Joseph Kabila emerging as victorious. The final decade of the Belgian presence in the Congo was characterized by a notable improvement of the living standard of the growing black urban population. ISBN links support NWE through referral fees, tat Indpendant du Congo: Congo Free State. If this small European country nevertheless succeeded in ruling a vast colony in Central Africa, this was due only to the tenacity of its second king, Leopold II (18351909). First, the post-colonial political leaders of Congo and Rwanda continued the Belgian colonial policies. However, the date of retrieval is often important. The Free State's expenses outstripped its incomes. Political instability created by tension between clan and central leadership in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, and tribal rivalry leading to genocide in Rwanda are at least in part the result of a colonial legacy that took far more from Africa than it gave. Belgium created two colonies in Africa: the entities now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of Zaire) and the Republic of Rwanda, previously Ruanda-Urundi, a former German African colony that was given to Belgium to administer after the defeat of Germany in World War I. Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony (coextensive with the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. 111: 1223. To summarize, the ethnic rivalries and tensions in the former Belgian colonies of Congo and Rwanda that escalated following independence and continued into the twenty-first century had their roots in the Belgian colonial administration. Encyclopedia of Race and Racism. In precolonial Congo, established monarchies and kingdoms maintained order. In the first years of the twentieth century, the Congo question became an important international issue, since the British government took this matter to heart, especially after an official enquiry commission, appointed by king Leopold, had confirmed the existence of excesses (1904). Africa: History of a Continent, rev. As a result, Leopold pursued his colonial ambitions without the support of the Belgian government. There were slight improvements in the everyday economic and social life of the Congolese that were comparable to conditions in other European colonies in Africa. The Belgians found willing elites to help them rule Rwanda. It became a League of Nations Class B mandate allotted to Belgium, from 1924 to 1945. These three protagonists had an enormous influence in the colony, and assisted each other in their respective ventures, even if their interests did not always coincide and, indeed, sometimes openly conflicted. All blacks saw this man as the devil of the Equator Although the figures are estimates, it is believed that as many as ten million Congolese died during the period,[7][8][9][10] roughly a fifth of the population.
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