Belgium's riches came at the cost of so much pain in the Congo - so much suffering and misery. For centuries the Congo River basin was inhabited by tribes and kingdoms with individual cultures. The first is when Joseph-Dsir Mobutu came to power in 1965. or Belgium switched from the Belgian franc to the Euro as its currency after 1 January 2002. In our Congolese community we have doctors, engineers, political scientists, psychologists. By the 1950s, many African countries embraced anti-colonialism, nationalism, equality, and opportunity under the Pan-Africanism movement. Since the largest concentration of population is in the north, there is a marked regional disjunction between water supply and demand. Sixty years after Congo gained its independence, the Belgian king has expressed his "deepest regrets" for the suffering his nation caused as a colonial power. [26] The ACLVB-CGSLB was founded in 1920 in an effort to unite the many small liberal unions. Indeed, Flemish and Walloon economies differ in many respects (consider for instance Eurostat and OECD statistics), and cities like Brussels, Antwerp, Lige, Bruges, Charleroi or Ghent also exhibit significant differences. [22] GDP growth in 2009 was negative at 1.5%. Young men in combat trousers stood by the roadside selling looted goods - tennis rackets, a toilet bowl, a fish tank. From then on, he was the private ruler of the tat Indpendant du Congo (Congo Free State), which was 80 times the size of his Kingdom of Belgium. 1909 The Congo Reform Association, founded in Britain, ends forced labor in the Congo Free State, today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ThoughtCo, Jul. The Belgian Government encourages new foreign investment as a means to promote employment. The Congo has been utterly cursed by its natural wealth. read more. The Belgian government renamed the region the "Belgian Congo." Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony (coextensive with the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. This was against the backdrop of the global Black Lives Matter movement in which protests against racism and the neglect of colonial history grew within the Belgian population. Secondly, there was colonial nostalgia among the Belgian population. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. About 80% of Belgium's trade is with fellow EU member states. Joseph Conrad set his popular novel Heart of Darkness in the Congo Free State and described European abuses. The government and the king have so far only formulated a regret. Reparations are also an important issue. Major crops are sugar beets, chicory, flax, cereal grains, and potatoes. Belgian per capita GDP ranks among the world's highest. This sham was supposedly a scientific and philanthropic organization which would greatly improve the lives of native Africans by converting them to Christianity, ending the trade of enslaved people, and introducing European health and educational systems. The industrial complex of Seraing was the largest in the world. The colony in the Congo - the Congo Free State - was personal property for the Belgian king and there was little oversight over what happened there. Under the mantle of propagating Christianity and trade in Africa, Belgium exploited Congo's riches, including rubber. Foreign investment led to considerable growth in the engineering sector of Belgiums economy in the late 20th century. The man's name was Nsala and his wife and children had just been killed. Today Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe, but all that money came from my country. He was born in Congo, but moved to Belgium around 40 years ago and has made his life here. It is thought the king's letter would not be considered as a "full apology", for fear that this would lead to claims for reparations. Millions of Congolese are believed to have died under Leopold II's rule, 1900: Exploration of Congo region by Belgian industrialists hoping to exploit its wealth, This defaced bust of Leopold II stands in the grounds of the museum he built to house some of his Congo plunder. These buildings were paid for by King Leopold II. Antwerp is also known for diamond cutting and dealing. The economy of Belgium is a highly developed mixed economy. We use After international protests, Leopold II sold the private colony to the Belgian state in 1908. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. It was the first time that a member of the royal family had addressed the Congolese people with such words. The harvesting of mussels is also an important industry in Belgium, with the mollusks being a popular menu item in restaurants throughout the country. organisation Some Belgian families still remember their relatives who served in Congo and the tradition of "Black Pete" - a clownish servant portrayed by white people in Blackface, helping St. Nicholas bring gifts to children - remains popular though is increasingly seen as discriminatory. The global net fortune has grown by 7.6% to a total of 128.5 billion euros. There is a Congo flavour in music and food and Congo exiles can be found plotting in Brussels' bars and hotels - some still referring to their homeland by its former name, Zaire. It is Europe's largest port for RoRo traffic[32] and natural gas. 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. The region is one of striking contrasts: in the Condroz farms range in size from 75 to 250 acres (30 to 100 hectares), whereas in the Ardennes they are between 25 and 75 acres (10 to 30 hectares). Manufacturing is the major economic activity in the provinces of East Flanders, Limburg, and Hainaut. I think I would have to say yes. When Belgium emerged from World War II with its industrial infrastructure relatively undamaged thanks to the Galopin doctrine, the stage was set for a period of rapid development, particularly in Flanders. Flanders' unemployment levels are generally only about half those of Walloon. Belgium was the first European country to join the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. Imagine how it would feel if they made a statue of him, and you had to walk past it every day. Hundreds of thousands of ethnographic objects - mainly looted objects, but also donations - were brought to Tervuren and are still stored in the museum today. Bureaucrats and politicians see it every day as they whizz round the Schuman roundabout. Intensive cultivation is confined to gardens and small farms, which are usually smaller than 10 acres (4 hectares). Diplomatic talks and pressure from many quarters would later make Leopold II renounce his . Today in History. A new passenger terminal was opened in 2005. Corrections? However, shortly after independence, there was a falling out between the independent government and Western powers, primarily the US and Belgium. Because political associations were prohibited at the time, reformers organized into cultural clubs such as Abako, a Bakongo association formed in 1950. Belgium Colonialism. The scandal which eventually shamed the Belgian Government to bring to an end Leopold's 20 years of despoiling the Congo was the discovery that his agents had been using forced labour to harvest rubber - a highly sought-after commodity at the time. Most streams rise in the Ardennes and flow northward; three-fourths of the countrys groundwater originates in the south. [1/2]Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his wife Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi stand while Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde sign a guest book during their visit to national museum in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo June 8, 2022 REUTERS/Justin Makangara, BRUSSELS/DAKAR, June 8 (Reuters) - Belgium's King Philippe is on his first visit to former colony Democratic Republic of Congo, where many remain angry at Belgium's failure to apologise for decades of brutal rule. Reuters. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Leopold II took the enormous profits and built lavish buildings in Belgium. Unemployment in Wallonia is mainly structural, while in Flanders it is cyclical. Needless to say, Caroline profited greatly from the King's attention, earning her the nickname "Queen of the Congo.". Richard, Katherine Schulz. African stakeholders were not involved in the negotiations. You can still enjoy your subscription until the end of your current billing period. Previously, he was based in Paris as Energy Correspondent. But he gave the orders. It is also the main hub and the headquarters of TNT Airways. 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? Millions have died from war, famine, or disease. You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many users needs. If youd like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. 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. Theres a dark history between Belgium and the DRC that started in the 19th century. Many slag heaps still surround the city. Links to more From Our Own Correspondent stories are at the foot of the page. Why? The United States established diplomatic relations with the DRC in 1960, following its independence from Belgium. However, most of Belgium's government leaders and citizens did not want to spend the exorbitant amount of money that would be needed to maintain distant colonies. Omissions? The first major step Belgium took in internationalizing its economy occurred when it became a charter member of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952. Given this high percentage, it seeks to diversify and expand trade opportunities with non-EU countries. Chalk and limestone mining around Tournai, Mons, and Lige, which supports a significant cement industry, is of greater contemporary importance. Historically, coal was Belgiums most important mineral resource. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. For 126 years, the US and Belgium have played key roles in shaping Congo's destiny. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony (coextensive with the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. They were given very little education. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/overview-of-belgian-colonialism-1434364. Pretoria News, Wednesday August 20, 2003. It is the first time that a Belgian monarch has offered any form of apology for the brutality, death and plunder that the nation oversaw after colonising Congo in the 19th century. Brussels' GDP per capita is much higher than either region, although this is in many ways artificial, as many of those that work in the Brussels-Capital Region live in Flanders or Wallonia. The Congolese did not need people to come and rule them, but at the time it was presented as if King Leopold came to Congo to bring civilisation. The museum, in the Brussels suburb of Tervuren, was founded in 1897 by Leopold II at the height of colonialism. * As many as 10 million people are estimated to have died in Congo from killings, famine and disease . Curiously, Laurent Kabila did come to Brussels to meet the present Belgian King, but the days of European intervention in Congo's affairs are over. I was born in Congo, and I also feel Congolese. Belgium gained independence in 1830. With his leopardskin hat and his throne, the old manipulator still looked the part, but in a country the size of western Europe he was losing control. Belgium was, of course, the colonial power in Congo until 1960, and links between the two countries remain strong. During the conference, Belgian King Leopold II obtained international legitimacy for the ownership of the lands in what is now the Congo. Charleroi is in the center of a vast coal basin, called Pays Noir. journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more. Government Spending in Belgium increased to 27582 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 27324 EUR Million in the third quarter of 2022. But by the time Leopold was stopped, the damage was done. Julien Bobineau received funding from the Bavarian Elite Network in form of a PhD scholarship, provided by the Federal Government of Bavaria (Germany). But while Belgium prospered from its African connection, Congo's story has been one of chaos and decline. Firstly, Mobutu repeatedly pointed out Belgiums moral responsibility to the country resulting from colonial rule, especially in crisis situations. 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. Inhabitants were forced to pay taxes and grow cash crops such as coffee. The national unemployment figures mask considerable differences between Flanders and Wallonia. Begonias have been cultivated in the Ghent area since 1860. Belgium imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Killed her. We spoke to Julien Bobineau, who has researched the narratives around Belgiums history with the Congo, about the visit. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In my opinion, we should call this what it was - genocide. 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. In 199293, the Belgian economy suffered the worst recession since World War II, with the real GDP declining 1.7% in 1993. 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. European adventurers experienced great difficulty in exploring and colonizing the Congo River Basin, due to the region's tropical climate, disease, and the resistance of the natives. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.9% of Belgium's GDP, while agriculture accounts for only 1% of Belgium's GDP.[20]. Estimates vary, but about half the Congolese population died from punishment and malnutrition. Unemployment also has been less of a problem in Flanders, which has experienced significant growth in service industries, than in Wallonia, where the negative consequences of deindustrialization remain. Your email address will not be published. In the end, Leopold's own ministers took his private fiefdom from him and his vast territories became the Belgian Congo - to distinguish them from the French colony on the other side of the Congo River. The economy of Belgium is varied and cannot be understood without taking the regional differences into account. In 2008, the per capita income (PPP) was $37,500. (Colonizing other peoples, regardless of the justification, is wrong. The doors are often closed to us. Belgium now imports all its coal, which is needed for the steel industry and for domestic heating. The Belgian Government reacted to the 1973 and 1979 oil price hikes by hiring the redundant work force into the public sector and subsidizing industries like coal, steel, textiles, glass, and shipbuilding, which had lost their international competitive edge. After many years of segregation, the tension erupted into the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 850,000 people died. Belgium has a free-enterprise economy, with the majority of the gross domestic product (GDP) generated by the service sector. On the one hand, Belgium wanted to maintain ties with the former colony for geopolitical and economic reasons. These efforts were moderately successful, but they left Belgium with one of the largest budget deficits in relation to gross national product in Europe. Until his death in 1909, Leopold II never set . A Belgian parliamentary investigation into the assassination in 1961 of Congo's independence hero Patrice Lumumba, the free country's first prime minister, concluded at the beginning of the 2000s that Belgium was "morally responsible" for his death. $578 billion (nominal, 2021 est.). 10 million Congolese died to produce this . You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Belgian King Baudouin I finally relented and released the DR Congo into independence on 30 June 1960. But he profited enormously from the Congos raw materials. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. The biggest union with around 1.7million members is the Christian democrat Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV-CSC) which was founded in 1904. Roads, railroads, electric stations, and public buildings were constructed by forced labour. Eighty percent of the crop is exported.[35]. The southern region continues a difficult transition out of sunset industries (mainly coal and steel), while sunrise industries (chemicals, high-tech, and services) dominate in Flanders. I have lived in Belgium for 40 years now. But even by the standards of the day, Leopold's attitude to his colony was ruthless and exploitative. Leopold's cruel, greedy activities in the current Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi continue to affect the welfare of these countries today. The Belgian foreign minister broke the news that Mr Kabila had been shot, and the prime minister was quick to announce he would be sending troops to the region, although not to DR Congo itself. The port of Ghent, in the north of the city, is the third largest port of Belgium. * In 2020, Belgiums current king, Philippe expressed deep regret for the suffering and humiliation inflicted on Congo during its 75 years under Belgian rule. It was the first time a Belgian head of state had done this in that way a paradigmatic turning point in the countrys historical policy. In addition, sands from the Kempenland supply the glass-manufacturing industry, and clays from the Borinage are used for pottery products and bricks. In 2004 the port of Antwerp was the second largest European sea port by cargo volume, and the Antwerp freight railway station accounts for one-third of Belgian freight traffic. Historically, Belgiums national prosperity was mainly dependent on the countrys role as a fabricator and processor of imported raw materials and on the subsequent export of finished goods. If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for $69 per month. In the late 1950s, when France and the United Kingdom worked with their colonies to prepare for independence, Belgium still portrayed the Congo as an idyllic land of parent-child relationships between Europeans and Africans. 30, 2021, thoughtco.com/overview-of-belgian-colonialism-1434364. Belgian Congo, 1908-1960 . Together with the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium is also one of Benelux member states. Inflation under 5% is in green. How much money did Belgium make from the Congo? Although reasonably plentiful, existing water supplies incur heavy demands from industrial and domestic consumers.
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