how many congolese did belgium kill

In the period from 1885 to 1908, many well-documented atrocities were perpetrated in the Congo Free State (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo) which, at the time, was a colony under the personal rule of King Leopold II of the Belgians.These atrocities were particularly associated with the labour policies used to collect natural rubber for export. Lumumba became the Premier of the Congo upon its independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960. After the Berlin Conference of 1884 the 905,000 square miles of the Belgian Congo [now the Democratic Republic of the Congo ] became the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium. But amazingly, although the death toll is in the many millions, far exceeding what Germany did to the Hereros (I get a toll of 55,000), the incredible terror, slavery, and death imposed on the Congo natives by one man has been virtually ignored in books on genocide. The report of the British Consul Roger Casement led to the arrest and punishment of white officials responsible for cold-blooded killings during a rubber-collecting expedition in 1903, including one Belgian national who caused the shooting of at least 122 Congolese natives. From 1885 to 1908, Belgian King Leopold II took control of the Congo. Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba in Brussels, Belgium, in January 1960. Because many Congolese women were starving, exhausted, or imprisoned, they gave birth to few children. He turned the nation into a moneymaking machine by farming ivory and rubber and building a fortune on the labor of the people who lived there. Jean-Claude Ilunga lives in Belgium but is Congolese by birth and says it is time for the former rulers to apologise to Congo. The Belgium administration issued the threat of seven days in prison and a fine of 500 francs. It would be 20 years before he would reign over the Congolese, but he did a lot of things in Belgium to foreshadow how his and honestly a lot of European leader's mindsets were during the latter half of the 1800s. Lumumba that led the United States to believe internal Congolese affairs affected U.S. interests? 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. A popular claim floating around the internet is that King Leopold II, between the years 1885 and 1908 when he ruled the area of the modern Democratic Republic of Congo, killed 10 million people. Belgium 'sorry' for killing of Lumumba. He led the first European efforts to develop the Congo River basin. BRUSSELS — A 150-year-old statue of King Leopold II of Belgium, whose forces seized Congo in the late 19th century and ran an exploitative regime that … You see, he killed over 10 million people in the Congo. An interview with Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja Patrice Lumumba was a radical leader of the Congolese independence movement who resisted Belgian colonialism and corporate interests. Why They Killed Patrice Lumumba. What were Katanga's major mineral resources? Belgium controlled 3 colonies and 3 concessions during its history, the Belgian Congo (modern DRC) from 1908 to 1960, and Ruanda-Urundi (Rwanda and Burundi) from 1922 to 1962. His name is King Leopold II of Belgium. Belgium is not the first European country we think of when we hear the words “blood-soaked tyranny.” Historically, the little country has always been more famous for beer than epic crimes against humanity. He “owned” the Congo during his reign as the constitutional monarch of Belgium. 1941 . Because of these inhumane acts of violence, millions of Congolese people were killed. 1942. Leopold II, king of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. While no official number is known, historians estimate a death count of 3 to 20 million. His genocidal exploitation of the territory, particularly the rubber trade, caused many deaths and much suffering. How many people did Leopold kill? While Belgium tried at first to arrest Congolese men who tried to avoid registering for the election, they soon found that it was difficult to catch everyone, since so many Congolese men were complicit in the protest. It also had a small concession in China and was a co-administrator of the Tangier International Zone in … Vangroenweghe says: 'Talk of whether Leopold killed 10 million people or five million is beside the point, it was still too many.' However, they are indirectly to blame, since overworking made the Congolese people more susceptible to sleeping sickness and smallpox, among other diseases. “Don’t take this to heart so much,” the soldier told the missionary. Many of these allegations are set out in a book called King Leopold's Ghost by the American author Adam Hochschild. Estimates for the number of people killed range between two and 15 million, easily putting Leopold in the top ten of history’s mass murderers. Photograph by Alice Harris, Daniel Danielson. Who was Leopold II, why did Belgium’s Antwerp remove his statue? King Leopold II of Belgium was responsible for the deaths and mutilation of 10 million Congolese Africans during the late 1800’s. Recognition of workers' rights and the introduction of minimum wages. Inside the palatial walls of Belgium's Africa Museum stand statues of Leopold II - each one a monument to the king whose rule killed as many as 10 million Africans. Although he played a significant role in the development of the modern Belgian state, he was also responsible for widespread atrocities committed under his rule against his colonial subjects. It was the blacks who were the CONSTABLE(police) FORCE who did most of the dirty work of the colonists, killing, raping and maiming those who didn't WORK for the system. During the rule of the Congo, many Congolese were put to work and they barely got any pay if they even got any. 0; 0; The Belgium king Leopold II turned a huge piece of Africa into his rural estate, enslaved its people, and left a legacy of misery that lasts until today . Nor did Belgian involvement in Congo end when the country won independence in 1960. How Belgium cut off hands and arms, and killed over 15 million in Africa. Belgium's brutal colonialism: Riches that came from Congolese blood. Much the same is … The Belgian Hitler. Limbs were often cut off as a war offering. 1948. Belgium formally apologised yesterday for its role in the assassination of the Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba in 1961. Belgium’s 19th-century king becomes the symbol of the country’s anti-racist movement due to his brutal colonial past. Belgium government sets a requirement that all Congolese must do 60 days of compulsory labor each year. The commissioner has promised us if we have plenty of hands he will shorten our service. And the massive killing did not stop when Belgium took it over. When he died in 1909 the king’s funeral cortege was booed. Wikimedia Commons. Congolese mineral wealth filled Belgium’s coffers. 10 Horrifying Facts About The Genocide In The Congo Free State. This area was known as the “Congo Free State”, and in 1908 the Belgian government formally took over the area. “They kill us if we don’t bring the rubber. The brutal crimes of Belgium, which more or less started in 1885, were first revealed by the journalist Edmund Dene Morel at the beginning of the 20th Century. Belgian government increases the forced labor requirement to 120 days per year. The Congolese horror ended when international outrage compelled the Belgian state to take control of the colony in 1908. Things quickly got out of control. The worst part about this was that the King of Belgium, King Leopold II, authorized brutal abuse if the Congolese didn't work or tried to rebel against the authority. Belgium found a brutal solution to quell unrest and Congolese soldiers were obliged to prove that they were not wasting costly ammunition by providing one cut hand of any native rebel they killed. Mark Oliver. Belgium’s King Leopold II ran a personal empire so vast and cruel, it rivaled – and even exceeded – the crimes of even some of the worst dictators of the 20th century. How did Belgium respond the the Congolese army mutiny after Lumumba refused their offers to help? Copper, diamonds and uranium. During the independence ceremony, he delivered an unplanned speech that riled the Belgian government and inspired the Congolese people. Add that to the 10-15 (or more) million killed under King Leopold of Belgium, where one group of blacks was forced to kill other blacks for not turning in their "quota" of rubber or other raw materials. June 9, 2020. Murder and mutilation were common. Belgian colonial empire. As Congo’s prime minister, Mr. Lumumba won a … However, it’s quite fine not to talk about a genocide perpetrated by European capitalist monarchs that killed over 10 million Congolese. I asked Belgium 's prime minister, Jean-Luc Dehaene, about the Congo legacy this week. Belgian administrators can’t be blamed entirely for the deaths from smallpox and sleeping sickness in the Congo. That’s why he was assassinated in a US-backed coup 59 years ago today. Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country blinded from its colonial role, has left many Congolese Belgians struggling with their own identity. 1959. Vangroenweghe says: 'Talk of whether Leopold killed 10 million people or five million is beside the point, it was still too many .' After killing an old man in front of a missionary, an African soldier explained why he did it. Maurício Brum. They flew in troops to protect white civilians and take over key positions but this was seen as an illegal act as the Congo was now independent and Lumumba declared Belgium was at war with the Congo . When you see his face or hear his name you should get as sick in your stomach as when you read about Mussolini or Hitler or see one of their pictures. First labor strikes in major cities which are brutally repressed. Of 3 to 20 million who was Leopold II, king of the country ’ s why he was in. Movement who resisted Belgian colonialism and corporate interests apologised yesterday for its in! The forced labor requirement to 120 days per year country won independence in 1960 reign as “... 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how many congolese did belgium kill