But once again, the money to pay for this symbol of grandeur was squeezed from the Congo. According to a 2007 survey, nine of the 23 richest Belgian families could trace their fortunes to colonial Congo. The most important legacy of colonialism in Rwanda and Burundi involved the Belgians' obsession with racial, ethnic classification. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. One of the founding members of the European Community, Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union (EU) to integrate European economies further. King Leopold II's Exploitation of the Congo From 1885 to 1908 - STARS With limited education about Belgium's rule in Congo, there is little awareness of the brutality of its colonial past in the broader society. Against this grim backdrop, in 1982, Prime Minister Martens' center-right coalition government formulated an economic recovery program to promote export-led growth by enhancing the competitiveness of Belgium's export industries through an 8.5% devaluation. Here are some facts about Belgian rule and the two countries' difficult bilateral ties since. [20], Belgium's unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2008. Joseph Kasavubu was elected the first president, with Patrice Lumumba as prime minister. The Belgian Industry claims 19% of the labor force; and agriculture claims 1%. Belgium's brutal colonialism: Riches that came from Congolese blood, Jean-Claude Ilunga says Belgium needs to say sorry for what happened in Congo. The coal in the Sambre-Meuse valley occurred in a narrow band across south-central Belgium from the French border through Mons, Charleroi, Namur, and Lige. From 1885 to 1908, Belgian King Leopold II took control of the Congo. 9. Two of Brussels' most elegant thoroughfares, Avenue Louise and Avenue Terveuren were laid out with money raised from Belgium's adventures in the Congo basin, and many of the city's most grandiose buildings were funded from the proceeds of rubber, timber and ivory. The corridor between Antwerp and Brussels also has emerged as a major manufacturing zone, eclipsing the older industrial concentration in the Sambre-Meuse valley. Villages which resisted paying the rubber-tax were punished. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. The open countryside of north-central BelgiumHainaut, Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, and Hesbaye (the region of rolling land southwest of Limburg)includes pastureland as well as intensive diversified cultivation of such crops as wheat, sugar beets, and oats; local variations include orchards in northern Hesbaye. An army commander, he seized power and established an autocratic dictatorship that lasted until 1997. Your email address will not be published. Others were looting the economy on an extravagant scale - even the embassy buildings in Japan were said to have been stolen. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 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. Atrocious Facts About Belgium's King Leopold II, The Butcher Of Congo And we have never heard a word of apology from the Belgian government. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgian-Congo, The Ultimate History Project - Belgian Congo, EHNE Digital Encyclopedia - Colonial Education in the Belgian Congo, University of Central Arkansas - Political Science - Belgian Congo (1908-1960). My children feel Belgian, but I am split. Belgium's reckoning with a brutal history in Congo Democratic Republic of Congo profile - Timeline - BBC News Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force. Julien Bobineau received funding from the Bavarian Elite Network in form of a PhD scholarship, provided by the Federal Government of Bavaria (Germany). Richard, Katherine Schulz. Being the de facto European capital, its economy is massively service-oriented. The federal government ran a 7.1% budget deficit in 1992 at the time of the EU's Treaty of Maastricht, which established conditions for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) that led to adoption of the common Euro currency on 1 January 2002. 10 Horrifying Facts About The Genocide In The Congo Free State. The country became a major steel producer in the early 19th century, with factories centred in the southern Walloon coal-mining region, particularly in the Sambre-Meuse valley. Pretoria News, Wednesday August 20, 2003. Tourism is increasingly becoming a major employer in the local area. The industrial complex of Seraing was the largest in the world. He named the region the "Congo Free State.". After many years of segregation, the tension erupted into the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 850,000 people died. General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium, "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019", "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: April 2023", "The outlook is uncertain again amid financial sector turmoil, high inflation, ongoing effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and three years of COVID", "People at risk of poverty or social exclusion", "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income EU-SILC survey", "Employment rate by sex, age group 20-64", "Unemployment by sex and age monthly average", "Euro area and EU27 government deficit both at 0.6% of GDP", "Scope affirms the Kingdom of Belgium's credit ratings at AA- and maintains the Stable Outlook", "General government gross debt annual data", "Aantal leden christelijke vakbond neemt jaar na jaar toe", "Hoeveel leden telt het ABVV? Despite being the second-largest country in Africa, with an approximate area of 2.3 million square kilometres (890,000 sq mi), and being endowed with rich natural resources, the DRC is the second-poorest country in the world. By the late 20th century, however, coal reserves in Wallonia were exhausted, the aging steel industry had become inefficient, labour costs had risen dramatically, and foreign investment (a major portion of the countrys industrial assets are controlled by multinational companies) had declined. In the mystery over what happened to DR Congo's leader, Laurent Kabila, many of the early facts were first confirmed by the Belgian Government. Like a lot of people, I suppose I am a mixture of Belgian and Congolese. ThoughtCo, Jul. Since the first official census by the Belgian authorities in 1924 put the population at about 10 million, it means that the King Leopold and the Belgian administration in the colony were responsible for the deaths of around 10 million Congolese. June 11th, 2020. Assistant Professor, Julius Maximilian University of Wrzburg. Diplomatic talks and pressure from many quarters would later make Leopold II renounce his rule over the Free State of the Congo, and subsequently handing it over to the Belgium government, and then Congo was named the Belgian Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo - Economy | Britannica But he profited enormously from the Congos raw materials. Marchal, the Belgian scholar, estimates that Leopold drew some 220 million francs (or $1.1 billion in today's dollars ) in profits from the Congo during his lifetime. 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. Under pressure from Britain and the United States, Leopold turned over ownership of the Congo Free State to the Belgian government in 1908. More information about the Democratic Republic of the Congo is available on the . The Hidden Holocaust: How King Leopold II Murdered 10 Million Africans. Most of this economic activity was controlled by foreign companies, such as the Belgian Union Minire du Haut-Katanga (UMHK), whose assets in 1965 were valued at nearly $430 million. Belgium's brutal colonialism: Riches that came from Congolese blood The first nationwide Congolese political party, the Congo National Movement, was launched in 1958 by Patrice Lumumba and other Congolese leaders. The Belgian government forced Leopold to surrender his personal country in 1908. He was born in Congo, but moved to Belgium around 40 years ago and has made his life here. The port houses, among others, big companies like ArcelorMittal, Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Parts, Honda, and Stora Enso. Belgium switched from the Belgian franc to the Euro as its currency after 1 January 2002. 11 Votes) King Leopold II (1835-1909) of Belgium created the Congo Free State in 1885 as part of a professed desire to bring civilization and modernity to Africans. Back then the liberal union was known as the "Nationale Centrale der Liberale Vakbonden van Belgi". But while Belgium prospered from its African connection, Congo's story has been one of chaos and decline. Required fields are marked *. Belgium gained independence in 1830. In 2006 Lige Airport was the 8th most important cargo airport in Europe. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Richard, Katherine Schulz. In the Congo Free State, Congolese hands were sys- tematically amputated when enslaved Africans failed to meet quotas for extract- ing rubber. Here are some facts about Belgian rule and the two countries' difficult bilateral ties since. No, but it would be the first step. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the Settings & Account section. And thirdly, Belgium must consider making some reparations. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economic center of the country continued to shift northwards to Flanders with investments by multinationals (Automotive industry, Chemical industry) and a growing local Industrial agriculture (textiles, food). On January 1, 1999, Belgium also became a charter member of the European Monetary Union, paving the way for the introduction of the euro, which became the countrys sole currency in 2002, replacing the Belgian franc. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It is the first time that a Belgian . analyse how our Sites are used. Uriel Sinai / Stringer/ Getty Images News/ Getty Images, Exploration of and Claims to the Congo River Basin, Independence for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The museum, in the Brussels suburb of Tervuren, was founded in 1897 by Leopold II at the height of colonialism. "I sense a lot of nervousness in Belgium regarding a formal apology as Congo might use it to demand financial reparations", Nadia Nsayi, a political scientist who specialises in Congo, told Reuters. More than in any other of the European colonial powers, one man was responsible for Belgium's grip on a vast chunk of central Africa: Leopold II. This problem is addressed through elaborate water-transfer systems involving canals, storage basins, and pipelines. Previously, he was based in Paris as Energy Correspondent.
Pastor Funeral Sermon,
Can I Fit Into Brandy Melville Quiz,
Guess The Nba Player By Their Hair,
Articles H