2. EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF BELGIUM RULE ON CONGO BETWEEN 1884-1914

2. EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF BELGIUM RULE ON CONGO BETWEEN 1884-1914

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Background to the question
The activities of Leopold ITs agents and of the concessionaire companies in the Congo free state in the period between 1879-1908 were among the worst in examples of colonial exploitation, to make matters worse, even when Leopold was forced to surrender Congo, the Belgium government did not rescue the situation.
In brief, both neither Leopold n nor the Belgium government impacted more negatively to Congo, if there were some positive impacts, they were accidental or intentioned to properly exploit the resources in the region.
Negative impacts of Belgium rule Oil Congo
1. Through the use of concessionaire companies like Campagne du Katanga and union miriiero-du-haut-Katanga, Leopold exploited Congo's resources like rubber and ivory.
2. Leopold through his agents grabbed almost all the fertile land in Congo, infact by 1907 ¾ of the total land had been declared crown land under Leopold; Africans could not access such land, so many were left landless.
3. The landless Africans were sent into reserves where the conditions of living were so brutal, they were congested and many lost their lives while in these reserves. Congolese became squatters in their own country
4. Many natives were forced to provide free labour on European rubber firms. this made many A Africans work tor long hours without pay, and many who failed to do so were killed to death by his special colonial army called force publique which comprised of an armed group of warriors called ZappoZappo.
5. Leopold's agents then introduced a multiplicity of unnecessary taxes which were never known before to the natives, at the end many failed to raise such taxes and they were flogged, others ran to forests where they were killed by wild animals.
6. Those who failed to provide the labour and pay taxes were forced to seek permanent homes in rubber forest for they feared for their lives, those caught had their hands cut off.
7. Natives lived in total misery as they were denied any involvement in trade,they were also banned to collect any resources from such areas declared as crown land, survival for the Congolese became difficult than ever before.
8.There was neglect of agriculture due to insecurity, even then there was high demand for ivory and rubber, so many able youths spent most of their time in supply of those highly demanded goods, thus by 1891. Famine had befallen almost the vast parts of the country.
9. Leopold's rule in the Congo led to massive killings of the Congolese, in fact even prominent chiefs like Msiri lost their dear lives.
10. There was destruction of settlements as Belgium agents used to burn villages to force Africans into rubber plantations.
11. The unpopular policies of Leopold's agents led to outbreak of many resistances throughout the country, societies like the Luba, the Yeke, and the Azande among others staged stiff resistances against the unpopular Belgium rule
12. The Belgium rule monopolized trade; they did this by burning Africans from
the free trade, Africans found in possession of trading items like ivory and rubber were taken to be thieves thus heavily punished. This left Africans dependants on Europeans.
13. Congolese lost their independence at first to Leopold and later to the Belgium government; even those that had collaborated with them found themselves losing their independence
14. The country was left with huge debts to settle as the king borrowed huge amounts of money moreover to establish luxurious palaces for himself.
15. There was influx of many Belgium nationals as he encouraged them and even gave them land and right to alienate African lands as long as they saw it exploitable, this brought in an enormous European force which helped him counter rebellions against his regime.
Positive impacts of Belgium rule on Congo;
1. Congolese developed nationalistic sentiments, this inspired them to stage several resistances, though on several occasions defeated but it sowed seeds for Congo’s acquisition of independence in the later half of the nineteenth century.
2. Leopold’s rule ended slave trade and slavery as he had promised in the 1876 Brussels’ conference though he replaced it with forced labour.
3. There was improvement in infrastructure as several roads and railway net works were built e.g. that line from Cong to Lake Tanganyika and that road from Kisangani to the coast, though they were intended to facilitate the exploitation of resources in the region. Africans benefited from them accidentally.
4. There was development of plantation agriculture and on a large scale; this boosted development of textile and car tyre industries in Congo, though this involved alienating African land.
5. There was evangelization of Congo as missionaries established missions, e.g. by 1890, the American and English Baptists had already established many stations in the lower and middle Congo, though this interrupted with African traditional religions.
6. Schools were established though such schools were meant to train clerks; drivers and interpreters who would help in the extension of their rule, even the critical subjects like history, literature among others were discouraged.
7. Hospitals were put in place though intended to repair damaged labour and after re covering, they would return work on European plantations.
8. Leopold's rule led to introduction of a monetary economy, they minted coins and Africans were made to work and cam the little wages in cash which at the end paid off as taxes.
Conclusively, Belgium rule ill Congo was to a larger extent oppressive and exploitative and that is why it made Congolese to rise up against it, those positive impacts were just accidental but their major aims were selfish in nature.