The Tragic State of the Congo: From Decolonization to Dictatorship: Exploring the Congo's Journey from Colonial Exploitation to Modern Dictatorship

by Jeanne M. Haskin

The Congo is rich in minerals and agricultural potential. What keeps it from emerging as a viable, even prosperous, state?


During four centuries of the slave trade, the Portuguese alone claimed over 13.25 million lives. Then, King Leopold II of Belgium took the Congo as his own fiefdom in 1876, and the exploitation of the populace was even more horrendous. The Belgian Congo was ruled by the Church and the State in cooperation with private companies. Education peaked at the secondary level, to deter the Congolese from aspiring to leadership roles. In many cases, children were taken at an early age and impressed into King Leopold s army, the Force Publique.

Independence in 1960 did not end the conflict with Belgium, but it did bring a new chaos as the local population struggled to run their fledgling country. When the stakes are so high, division and conflict are easily provoked.

Under the influence of ambitious leaders and outside interests, the problems escalated. Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister (and suspected of communist leanings), was assassinated. After five years of turmoil, Colonel Mobutu rose to power with help from the US.

Mobutu ruled the country (then called Zaire ) through a one-party state that co-opted the people with fanciful slogans and empty promises. It was also a police state whose reach extended into every school and every village. Atrocities were committed to strike fear into the people; furthermore, Mobutu s response to the genocide in Rwanda was to allow the Hutu genocidaires to take up residence in Zaire. This led to clashes with the Zairian Tutsis and with Rwanda and Burundi.

Interference by outside powers who covet Congo s resources only exacerbates regional rivalries. Today, every intervention in the name of assistance seems to raise new questions about motives and allegiances, and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people continue to be at risk.

The Tragic State of the From De-Colonization to Dictatorship traces the Congo s recent history, from Mobutu to Kabila, with details of the 1999 Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement and the inadequacy of the resources provided to secure it; discusses relations with the global powers and with neighbors like Rwanda, Uganda and Angola, the Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003, and the 2005 draft Constitution; and explores the goals of the current transitional government and the hopes invested in it.

Genres: Africa, History

Paperback

First published October 28, 2005

Reviews

[Xavier Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed

[Andrew]

While I got lost a few times in the acronyms and splinter groups (partially DRCs fault, not the author's), still I think this is a better explanation of the conflict than Thomas Turner's "Congo Wars."

[Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good explanation. Sometimes lost in the names. But a fair and sophisticated assessment of the Congolese issues.

[Banu Altunbas]

I think this book is a good compilation of the events in the recent past of Congo, all the recent (2000 and 2005) negotiations for peace and all the breaking of the promises. As much as it's a good compilation, Haskin didn't add much from her personal experience or through collection of information. Neither did she add any of her own opinions on what she thought. For example some parts about the transitional government constitution is like a fable to me, as it looks great on paper but was and still is never implemented in Congo. It could be a good source for people who are newly introduced to the conflict in Congo. For me it was a good remembarance of what I lived through during that time in Congo.