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Belgian Congo

DRC flag
This article is part of the
History of DR Congo
series
Precolonial period
(-1867)
Colonisation
(1867-1885)
Congo Free State
(1885-1908)
Belgian Congo
(1908-1960)
1st Republic
Congo Crisis (1960-1965)
2nd Republic
Zaïre (1965-1996)
First Congo War
(1996-1998)
Second Congo War
(1998-)

On November 15, 1908, King Leopold II of Belgium formally relinquished personal control of the Congo Free State and the renamed Belgian Congo came under the administration of the Belgian parliament, a system which lasted until independence was granted in 1960.

The Belgian administration might be most charitably characterized as paternalistic colonialism. The educational system was dominated by the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches and the curricula reflected Christian and Western values. For example, in 1948 fully 99.6% of educational facilities were controlled by Christian missions. There was little regard for native culture and beliefs. Native schooling was mainly religious and vocational.

Political administration fell under the total and direct control of the mother country; there were no democratic institutions. Native curfews and other restrictions were not unusual. Following World War II some democratic reforms began to be introduced, but these were complicated by ethnic rivalries among the native population.


Last updated: 02-07-2005 10:01:00
Last updated: 04-25-2005 03:06:01