Africa by the European ALEXANDER.
The horrors of the arbitrary rule of the Belgian CROWE provoked indignation around Congo was transformed into a Possession Belgian state, rather than of ib king.
This was not just a reaction however, but coincided with DELSUC changing cconomic interests in Africa. Belgian capital was now primarily concerned with the of the immense mineral wealth of the Congoin particular, iron, tin, and copper.
PARTNERS In 1906 the famous company LITOR THICKE JO ERE TOR SOUR CISE COMICID the Congo, and a new era of colonialism had begun.
Union Miniere was only hall Belgian — the orber partner was the British Tanganyika Concessions Company The new type of exploitation of Congolese resources and labour could not be carried out by the old get-rich-quick methods of the Belgian crown. It needed expensive economic back-ups: mines, railways, port facilities; a stable labour force was necococo run tocol, anu an administration capable ensuring the safety of the capital, But the supposed "henefits' brought by this new imperlalisor were both superficial and carefully restricted. The harshest forms of exploitation of the native population were cased.
CCODOmiC conditions LAST week we revealed the sort of brutal regime in parties (banned by the colonia what is today Zaire after the 19th century partition of powers, wriles place, but only hy virtue of the Congolese people becoming the wage slaves of the great trusts.
on me pai Le Terre: he Conded et continued much 15 LEILIE.
a people without rights in their UNILISHE SERVILE Only a tiny black elite was allowed stare minimally the benefits imperialist Incy could do only by a servile acceptance of imperialist and racist ideas, implanted by the mission schools and other Institutions.
To be accepted even in a token way in Europcan circles a "native had to bold a special card certifying that they had broken with their way of life and European scandards This was only granted after a lengtity, and often humiliating.
public inquiry. In the decade betore independence only 30 Congolese 1 beld this precious RESTLESS Little wonder, when the tide of Freedom began to sweep across Africa in the 1300 CaCorse poopi of should have become restless Following the examples of Western Africa, they decidedto hefore a radical Jineration struggle develoned They counted on the absence and some improvement io of political traditions and the COOK lack of established political regime) preventing the emer ROY imperialist domination But just to make sure thes wheel. They rejected nationalist calls for the establishment of a provisional ensure a smooth passage from the colonial to an independent administration, Instead the colonial administration was simply allowed to collapse. LYY DEL Governent took even found itself at the bead of a country falline to picoes and that LUMUMBA The elections went much as the Belgians expected, with the lurgest party, the Congolese National Movement of Patrice, Lumumha, winning little nor lan a quaer or 100 13 Parliamentary seats. traditional However Lumumba was able accepted to assemble a workable -shaky number of other movements that opposed tribalist politics and farpured a strong, LEO ON WAKED BULLU the Belgians, who becanse the Fervent balisın. Ar the first sign of DOUR ETIC SCHEMI then, thar Belgian troops, Meanwhile, Union Miniere very supporting the separatist group headed by Moise Tshombe "Tribalist' Congolese tribe of allowerfut BILIN members of the Belgian stock national exchange.
In the deliberately provoked bloody conflict which tollowed, the Lumumba Government was overturned could stand up to Government the office EUROPEANS ob crument.
coalition with localist and ndependent Congo of tri- -L.oneolese masses Same people causing politics now ess Jonist forces tries and Lumunba bunsclf Riled. With lim died the possibility of a unified and democratic than useless.
Nations military and political organised Buf all that could have saved the Congo was a revolutionary mobilisation of the turbulent in the UN operation — UN officials and representatives of the more radical third world countries like Ghana — genuinely sought a strong, democratic Government and advocated a real fight against the Katangese seces But imperialis diplomacy in mixed up will tie contradictions in these coun Commander of the Ghanaian contingent in the Congo was a Gencral, and his later overthrow President Nkrumab in a coup), made the UN's activity worse The chaotic situation was *strong man" took charge of thie to all the politicians wrangling SOWETO COMMEMORATION MARCH Friday, 16 July, 5.30 Malet Street, London WC1 March to rally at Central Hall, Westminster Called by African Students' Union Backed by Anti Apartheid Movement Joseph Mobsts.
Basing himself on arbitrary and capricious personal power The won the confidence of the imperialists, who once again became advocates of centralised Congo state, as they aretoday SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 JuDe 1978 page 11