Case study: The Democratic Republic of Congo. As of July 2012, however, the statistical unemployment rate in Brussels was 20.6%.[30]. [20], Belgium's unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2008. Marchal, the Belgian scholar, estimates that Leopold drew some 220 million francs (or $1.1 billion in todays dollars) in profits from the Congo during his lifetime. It was the first time a reigning monarch of Belgium expressed such regret, although he stopped short of formally apologising. Belgium imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. 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. Rubber Production Leopold used the rubber money to develop Belgium. Needless to say, Caroline profited greatly from the King's attention, earning her the nickname "Queen of the Congo.". We have to teach this at school so the kids will have a different vision and will start looking at the Congolese differently. And that was how he viewed the raw materials and the people of the Congo - as a prize to be consumed. Economy of Belgium - Wikipedia 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. Villages which resisted paying the rubber-tax were punished. Mr Mobutu invited journalists to witness him swearing in a new batch of ministers, a new collection of snouts at his government's trough. They too are now exhausted, but the refining of imported metallic ores remains an important component of Belgiums economy. Due to this brutality and European diseases, the native population dwindled by approximately ten million people. There were two major coal-mining areas. Belgium gained independence in 1830. Attracted by the EU 1992 single-market program, many foreign firms and lawyers have settled in Brussels since 1989. An army commander, he seized power and established an autocratic dictatorship that lasted until 1997. The trip was billed as a chance to recalibrate the relationship between the two countries after a dark colonial past. Millions of Congolese are said to have been killed or worked to death . About one-fourth of Belgiums land area is agricultural and under permanent cultivation; more than one-fifth comprises meadows and pastures. The first major step Belgium took . And perhaps to give the Congolese the respect they deserve. In 2021, Belgium's public debt was about 108% of the country's GDP. And thirdly, Belgium must consider making some reparations. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. Mined since the 13th century, these coal reserves were instrumental in Belgiums industrialization during the 19th century. There is also a small Flemish nationalist union that exists only in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium, called the Vlaamse Solidaire Vakbond. The economy of Belgium is a highly developed mixed economy. And we have never heard a word of apology from the Belgian government. It has since developed a highly-developed transportation infrastructure made up of ports (most notably the Port of Antwerp), canals, railways, and highways, in order to integrate its industry with that of its neighbours. A rebellion broke out in several eastern districts in 1919 and was not suppressed until 1923. In the letter, the king expressed his deep regret for the colonial injustices committed in the Congo. But he profited enormously from the Congos raw materials. 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. Many of these peoples spoke Bantu languages. It is an eye-catching centrepiece for an elegant park. [20], Belgium's industry is concentrated mainly in the populous region of Flanders in the north, around Brussels and in the two biggest Walloon cities, Lige and Charleroi, along the sillon industriel. Other industrial and service activities include car manufacturing, telecommunications, photographic products. The industrial complex of Seraing was the largest in the world. Belgium was the first European country to join the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. Belgian wealth squeezed from Congo - BBC News Severed hands became the infamous symbol of the colonial state where officials brutally maimed those failing to deliver harvest quotas. With the onset of a recession in the 1970s, this system became an increasing burden on the economy and accounted for much of the government budget deficits. This disparity began to fade during the interwar period. During the 100-day genocide, hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and sympathizers were massacred at the hands of predominantly Hutu aggressors. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Until his death in 1909, Leopold II never set . Or else they'll say that you're overqualified, even when you're saying that you just want the job, because you have to feed your wife and kids. Despite being the second-largest country in Africa, with an approximate area of 2.3 million square kilometres (890,000 sq mi), and being endowed with rich natural resources, the DRC is the second-poorest country in the world. Rubber Production Leopold used the rubber money to develop Belgium. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Belgiums fishing industry is relatively small; almost all fish are consumed within the country. The government and the king have so far only formulated a regret. Atrocious Facts About Belgium's King Leopold II, The Butcher Of Congo Since then, DRC has experienced corruption, inflation, and several regime changes. King Leopold sent the explorer Henry Morton Stanley to the region. Leopold II took the enormous profits and built lavish buildings in Belgium. However, this was much less than the payment Europeans received for the same work. In May 1990, the government linked the Belgian franc to the Deutsche Mark, primarily through closely tracking German interest rates. Its capital is Kinshasa, formerly named Leopoldville. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgian-Congo, The Ultimate History Project - Belgian Congo, EHNE Digital Encyclopedia - Colonial Education in the Belgian Congo, University of Central Arkansas - Political Science - Belgian Congo (1908-1960). 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 government has balanced the budget every year since, until 2009 where it ran a deficit of about $25 billion. 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? Besides these "big three" there are a number of smaller unions, some more influential than others. Here are some facts about Belgian rule and the two countries' difficult bilateral ties since. He took Congo as his own personal possession and made himself rich. In our Congolese community we have doctors, engineers, political scientists, psychologists. Standard Digital includes access to a wealth of global news, analysis and expert opinion. journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more. Accounts of atrocities reached London and Brussels - including one which described how Leopold's enforcers had collected baskets of severed hands to prove they had been doing their work. 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. A total of 4.99 million people make up Belgium's labor force. In the mystery over what happened to DR Congo's leader, Laurent Kabila, many of the early facts were first confirmed by the Belgian Government. Required fields are marked *. Leopolds reign over the Congo Free State, however, has become infamous for its brutality. The Free State's concession system was soon copied by other colonial regimes, notably those in the neighbouring French Congo. Although Leopold II established Belgium as a colonial power in Africa, he is best known for the widespread atrocities that were carried out under his rule, as a result of which as many as 10 million people died in the Congo Free State. Bureaucrats and politicians see it every day as they whizz round the Schuman roundabout. The Belgian government forced Leopold to surrender his personal country in 1908. Moreover, in the early 1990s the government decreased its subsidy to the social security system. The European Commission negotiates on trade issues for all member states, which, in turn lessens bilateral trade disputes with Belgium.[20]. 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. Julien Bobineau received funding from the Bavarian Elite Network in form of a PhD scholarship, provided by the Federal Government of Bavaria (Germany). In 1930, the ACLVB-CGSLB adopted its current name.[27]. After only two months in power, Lumumba was deposed in September 1960. DR Congo: Cursed by its natural wealth - BBC News Against this grim backdrop, in 1982, Prime Minister Martens' center-right coalition government formulated an economic recovery program to promote export-led growth by enhancing the competitiveness of Belgium's export industries through an 8.5% devaluation. The economies, political systems, and social welfare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi have been enormously affected by the greedy ambitions of King Leopold II of Belgium. The Democratic Republic of Congo is widely considered to be the richest country in the world regarding natural resources; its untapped deposits of raw minerals are estimated to be worth in excess of U.S. $24 trillion. offers FT membership to read for free. Antwerp is the first diamond market in the world, diamond exports account for roughly 1/10 of Belgian exports. 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. (2021, July 30). On 1 May 1998, Belgium became a first-tier member of the European Monetary Union. Belgium is one of the worlds leading processors of cobalt, radium, copper, zinc, and lead. how much money did belgium make from the congo How should Belgium reconcile with its brutal past? Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.9% of GDP, while agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP. If youd like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. Belgian King Philippe and his wife Queen Mathilde recently led a delegation on a week-long visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Together with the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium is also one of Benelux member states. On January 1, 1999, Belgium also became a charter member of the European Monetary Union, paving the way for the introduction of the euro, which became the countrys sole currency in 2002, replacing the Belgian franc. For some years ivory was a principal source of the great wealth that Leopold and his associates drew from the new colony. The Congolese, who by then had some rights such as owning property and voting in elections, began to demand independence. We use Belgium wanted to grant independence over a thirty-year span, but under pressure from the United Nations, and in order to avoid a long, deadly war, Belgium decided to grant independence to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on June 30, 1960. Charleroi features an industrial area, iron and steel industry, glassworks, chemicals, and electrical engineering. "I sense a lot of nervousness in Belgium regarding a formal apology as Congo might use it to demand financial reparations", Nadia Nsayi, a political scientist who specialises in Congo, told Reuters. Being the de facto European capital, its economy is massively service-oriented. But we do need to keep them - to display them in museums as a warning. Congo was first taken as the personal property of the Belgian King Leopold II. Then, King Leopold II came to power in 1865 and believed that colonies would greatly enhance Belgium's wealth and prestige. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. It culminated in the Berlin Conference. Rigorous monetary reform aided Belgiums post-World War II recovery and expansion, particularly of the Flemish light manufacturing and chemical industries that developed rapidly in the north, and Belgium became one of the first European countries to reestablish a favourable balance of trade in the postwar world. "I would like to express my deepest regrets for these injuries of the past, the pain of which is now revived by the discrimination still too present in our societies," King Philippe wrote in the letter to the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi. Until his death in 1909, Leopold II never set foot in his colony. Perhaps Congo is too big a country to be governed as a single state. Begonias have been cultivated in the Ghent area since 1860. It was the first time that a member of the royal family had addressed the Congolese people with such words. The museum, in the Brussels suburb of Tervuren, was founded in 1897 by Leopold II at the height of colonialism. Things quickly got out of control. Stanley successfully made treaties with native tribes, set up military posts, and forced most Muslim traders of enslaved people out of the region. Belgian Congo | History & Facts | Britannica Pixabay. This TV . Stanley's expeditions opened up the Congo for exploitation by . The second shift happened much later. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Reuters. But while Belgium prospered from its African connection, Congo's story has been one of chaos and decline. then he sold it to his home country of Belgium who ruled the Congo from 1908 to 1960. They had no role in legislation, but traditional rulers were used as agents to collect taxes and recruit labour; uncooperative rulers were deposed. ThoughtCo. * In 2020, Belgiums current king, Philippe expressed deep regret for the suffering and humiliation inflicted on Congo during its 75 years under Belgian rule. Now we need that - a recognition that something terrible happened . Hundreds of thousands of ethnographic objects - mainly looted objects, but also donations - were brought to Tervuren and are still stored in the museum today. We support credit card, debit card and PayPal payments. These buildings were paid for by King Leopold II. Oats, rye, and potatoes are the chief crops; wheat, sugar beets, chicory, hops, flax, and ornamental plants (e.g., azaleas, roses, and begonias) also are grown in southwestern Flanders. Even the district largely rebuilt with European Union offices is dominated by an imperial Arc de Triomphe - a rival to the one in Paris. The Belgian government renamed the region the "Belgian Congo." Inhabitants were forced to pay taxes and grow cash crops such as coffee. His rules weren't about working for a fair wage - oh no, this was forced labour, where the workers were treated like slaves. Belgium's accumulated public debt remains high at 99% of 2009 GDP. Richard, Katherine Schulz. Quiz, Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz. The Belgians believed that the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda was racially superior to the Hutu ethnic group because the Tutsis had more "European" features. When I walk around Brussels, I see beautiful buildings, I see statues and monuments and all of them were paid for using money taken from Congo.Today Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe, but all that money came from my country. Growth of the forest industry after World War II has been aided by mechanization, allowing Belgium to reduce its reliance on imported timber. By that time, UMHK was one of the largest single sources of Congolese . Belgium has struggled to come to terms with its colonial past and its government has never expressed regret the same way King Philippe has done although in 2020 a Congo committee was established in the wake of the global anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. An Israeli attack late on Monday killed one soldier, wounded 7 others including two civilians and put Aleppo International Airport out of service, Syrian state media reported early on Tuesday citing a military source. 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.
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