Disease, famine and violence combined to reduce the birth-rate while excess deaths rose. The severing of workers’ hands achieved particular international notoriety. These were sometimes cut off by Force Publique soldiers who were made to account for every shot they fired by bringing back the hands of their victims.
A constitutional referendum the year before Mobutu’s coup of 1965 resulted in the country’s official name being changed to the « Democratic Republic of the Congo. » In 1971 Mobutu changed the name again, this time to « Republic of Zaire ».
Are there two countries called Congo?
There are two Congos. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC or Congo-Kinshasa), formerly a Belgian colony and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), formerly a French colony – both celebrated independence in 1960.
Why did the Congo crisis happen?
The crisis began almost immediately after the Congo became independent from Belgium and ended, unofficially, with the entire country under the rule of Joseph-Désiré Mobutu. . A nationalist movement in the Belgian Congo demanded the end of colonial rule: this led to the country’s independence on 30 June 1960.
Did the French colonize Congo?
French administration The first name given officially on 1 August 1886 for the new colony was Colony of Gabon and Congo. On 30 April 1891 this was renamed Colony of French Congo, consisting of Gabon and Middle Congo, the name the French gave to Congo-Brazzaville at that time.
Why did Leopold want rubber?
In the Berlin Conference of 1884 through 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium succeeded in convincing the major powers that his interests in Congo were purely philanthropic and all he wanted was to bring civilization to Congo. . Rubber was one among many precious natural resources available in Congo.
What is the old name of Congo?
Zaire (/zɑːˈɪər/), officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre [ʁe. py. blik dy za. iʁ]), was the name of a sovereign state between 1971 and 1997 in Central Africa that is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Was Congo colonized by France?
France controlled the Republic of the Congo as a colony from the 1880s until the Congo’s independence in 1960.
Are there two Congo countries?
Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country to the southeast, capital Kinshasa, formerly known as Zaire, sometimes referred to as « Congo-Kinshasa »
Who colonized the Congo?
Colonial rule in the Congo began in the late 19th century. King Leopold II of Belgium attempted to persuade the Belgian government to support colonial expansion around the then-largely unexploited Congo Basin. Their ambivalence resulted in Leopold’s establishing a colony himself.
What happened in the Belgian Congo?
Administration of the Belgian Congo. Leopold II’s reign in the Congo became an international scandal due to large-scale mistreatment of the indigenous peoples, including frequent mutilation and murder of men, women, and children to enforce rubber production quotas.
Why did Leopold want the Congo?
Colonial rule in the Congo began in the late 19th century. King Leopold II of Belgium attempted to persuade the Belgian government to support colonial expansion around the then-largely unexploited Congo Basin. Their ambivalence resulted in Leopold’s establishing a colony himself.
Why are there two Congo countries?
Both countries gained independence in 1960, but they were colonized by different countries. Congo-Brazzaville was colonized by France while Congo-Kinshasa was colonized by Belgium.
What resources did Belgium want from the Congo?
In the interior, gold, diamonds, copper, tin, cobalt, and zinc were mined; the colony became an important source of uranium for the United States during World War II. Africans worked the mines and plantations as indentured labourers on four- to seven-year contracts, in accordance with a law passed in Belgium in 1922.
Why does the Congo speak French?
The French Language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has many similarities with Belgian French. This is because the French Language was introduced to the country in its colonial period when it was under Belgian rule. . Ethnologue lists 215 living languages. But French is the official language.
How many hands were cut off in the Congo?
In the 23 years (1885-1908) Leopold II ruled the Congo he massacred 10 million Africans by cutting off their hands and genitals, flogging them to death, starving them into forced labour, holding children ransom and burning villages.
Was the Congo Free State a genocide?
And although all the European colonial powers decimated the areas of the African continent they had control over, the genocide carried out in King Leopold’s name is usually pointed to as the most devastating. .
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