Africa De-Colonization Timeline

The Congo Free State was ruled by the King of Belgium, without any regulation. The state, almost landlocked and rich with resources, was a kleptocracy, or ruled by a leader in order to enrich itself at the expense of the population. King Leopold exploited resources at the expense of the population, including ivory and rubber (!!).

European Congress to divide Africa for colonial rule, disregarding any tribal divisions.

After the international scene caught wind of the economic exploitation and questionable practices by King Leopold, Belgium took control over the territory as a country, name it the Belgian Congo. It was run more straight-forwardly, and stressed economic development, creating a lot of infrastructure (to export goods). They placed no importance in developing any notions of self-rule or education. They developed a "evolue" class of natives who they considered more developed and so-called more European.

In 1958, the Movement nationale congolaise gained strength, and worked to unite all of the Congo in independence, not just one tribe or region. In 1959, pressure began to build in support of decolonization. In 1959, the Leopoldville Uprising illustrated this building sentiment. Future Prime Minister Lumumba was jailed in this protest, and partial independence was granted in the same year. In 1960 the Brussels Round Table Conference outline plans for independence, with no help in creating democracy.

In May 1960, the first elections are held in the Congo. Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961), a former postal worker and leader in the Movement Nacionale Congolaise, won the highest percentage of the vote (25%) and won the most powerful role in the country, Prime Minister. His rival won the second highest amount of votes, Joseph Kasavuba and therefore became President. It was an uneasy coalition.

In the first months of his term as Prime Minister, Lumumba is met with many crises. Less than a month into his term, the army mutinies in the beginning of July. The province of Katanga, resource rich, recedes from the country, with the support of Belgium for resources. Lumumba appeals to the UN for a stronger approach in the conflict, but is denied, as well as from the United States, without wealth, help or powerful allies. He goes to the Soviet Union for aid and they fear the Congo is "going red." In August, another resource rich region recedes and the political leadership coalition falls apart and Lumumba is confined to his house. He tries to escape and is captured and killed by Belgian and Kataganese officials. The CIA was complicit with the plan.

After the coup of Lumumba, Joseph Mobutu appeals to the West to be put in power. Thus begins his 32 year long reign of power. A member of the Congolese military, journalist, Mobutu was named chief of staff of the military and then as supreme leader of the country. He was very sympathetic towards the West. He renames the Congo "Zaire" to summon a sort of authentic Africanness and changes his own name and way of dress to invoke a feeling of being an "African Leader." he used this to justify his own power. Rampant cronyism defined his rule, and appropriated foreign assets and companies to his friends in the political elite. The infrastructure developed during the Belgian Congo is neglected and money is spent of ridiculous personal indulges while Zaire is ranked lowest in the world. He cracked down on dissent, while he maintained friendly relations with the US, including Nixon, Regan, and Bush. In 1989 the cold war ends and ties are cut. In 1994, the Rwandan genocide sends Hutu refugees into neighboring Zaire and works to make him look good. Mobutu was more sympathetic with the Hutus,and looks the other way as war criminals and engineers of the genocide stay in camps and continue to commit violence against the Tutsis. In 1997 Tutsis rise up and Mobutu is driven out of Zaire, from the help of neighbors, but dies in 1997. Laurent Kabila is named leader, but dies in 2001.

After Kabila is in power, Zaire is renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the African World War, in part to gain control of resource rich Congo commences during the power vacuum. In 2001 the father Kabila dies and son is put into power. In 2006, there was a hope for free and fair elections for Congo, but was crushed and continued into the 2011 elections. Rebel groups continue to vy for power and the power vacuum continues. Violent M23, working to gain control, is backed by Tutsi Rwandans. The wars are profitable, and made up of child soldiers, fueled ethnic tensions, control of natural resources, and soldiers are payed by ravaging and pillaging villages.

Historically, Rwanda is divided into two prodominant groups, the Tutsis (15%) and the Hutus (84%). The Tutsi were stereotypically cattle herders, while the Hutus were stereotypically farmers. Though these divisions were highly overlooked and extrememly mixed, as colonial powers dominated, they heightened these cultural differences as a division.

The Belgians amplified the stereotypical divisions between the Hutus and the Tutsis, fostering divisions as part of their divide and conquer strategy. They favored the Tutsis historically, because they believed them to be more "European," though these differences were largely constructed. Towards the middle of the 20th century, the international community started to criticize the Tutsi favoritism, and the government switched to Hutu Empowerment in 1957. As the century progressed, Belgian accepted that the tides were changing and Rwanda would have independence. So without any preperation and with ethnic tensions growing, Rwandan independence came in 1962.