Belgium Partitioned, What Happens to the Congo?

[Kibbutznik]

Only years after the guns went silent in Germany, the nation of Belgium was facing a crisis of identity. The ostensible sovereign was King Leopold III, but his craven surrender of Belgium to the invading Nazis drew his legitimacy, and by extrapolation that of the monarchy, into question. This "Royal Crisis," fueled by growing leftist sentiment, split the nation's populace along ethnic lines, with the Flemish largely supporting the monarch and the Walloon echoing the republican sentiments of their brethren to the south.

In a different world, Belgium might have not survived the debacle, which would have caused political ripples elsewhere; the small kingdom held a surprisingly massive empire in Africa, consisting of the Kongo and Rwanda-Urundi. Had a divorce occurred, what would be the fate of these colonies?

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

Independence followed by chaos, corruption, misery, exploitation, inter tribal violence and brutal dictatorship. In other words just like otl but only 10 years earlier.

 

[sprite]

As far as i know, most of the business interests in the Congo were from the industrial Walloon side.

@Michel Van is the man for this question.

 

[Deleted member 94680]

Only years after the guns went silent in Germany, the nation of Belgium was facing a crisis of identity.

So we're talking late-'40s/early-'50s?

Belgian control limps on until the late '50s and then Mr. Mobutu comes calling earlier? Maybe the West decides to... assist more... vigorously in the troubles of the the '60s? British Katanga? French Ituri?

 

[pompejus]

As far as i know, most of the business interests in the Congo were from the industrial Walloon side.

I believe you are correct, especialy considering that a large part of the Belgian upper and even middle class was Walloon or at least Francophone. Since Wallonia does not have a coast, owning a colony is hard, if not impossible. I don't think it will end up Flemish, so either independence or the colony taken over by another European power makes sense as an option.

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

I believe you are correct, especialy considering that a large part of the Belgian upper and even middle class was Walloon or at least Francophone. Since Wallonia does not have a coast, owning a colony is hard, if not impossible. I don't think it will end up Flemish, so either independence or the colony taken over by another European power makes sense as an option.

By this point in time another nation taking over the Belgian Congo in the event of Belgium dissolving is very unlikely. Britain and France are broke and beginning to look to divest themselves of unprofitable possessions and the United Nations would raise hell about it. No by far the most likely outcome for the Congo is rushed independence and the chaos that will follow.

 

[dannythegreat]

Like others have mentioned, rushed independence is very possible but I think it's also possible that Congo and Ruanda-Urundi could also end up as UN Trust Territories for a limited time. Perhaps with France as the trustee for the Congo and the UK as the Trustee for Ruanda-Urundi. Considering that this would likely be controversial at the time, I doubt that Katanga or any other provinces would be split off from the Congo as such an act would be decried as blatant colonialism.

 

[Michel Van]

@Michel Van is the man for this question.

A "Royal Crisis" with Leopold III ending Belgium ?
For Congo is Welcome to Hell...

Next to issue "Who get what?" the Flemish and Walloon will dispute over Congo
also if Industry, Political Parties (socialists), Belgium aristocracies and large landowners join this dispute,
Special over Katanga province with cheap raw materials needed for Walloon heavy industry !
(see the mess the Belgium done during Congo civil war to make Katanga a puppet state)

Next to that are Locals waiting for this, to get Evil Belgians out of Congo
See under King Leopold II reign over Congo, millions africans died there.

the "Royal Crisis" would be hell of a problem for U.N. in 1950...

 

[Harry_Z_Trumen]

I guess this was never discussed as a possibility?

 

[Michel Van]

I guess this was never discussed as a possibility?
View attachment 595681

So insane it look, it could have worked for Belgium politicaly...
Except it not respected the Railways and Waterway needed for Transport of goods true Congo
Walloon need here help by Portugal for Railway out Katanga to deep sea harbor in Angola.

For locals Congolese a reason more to get rid of all Belgiums

 

[Slime_blob]

The new belgium, as belgium is now based in congo

 

[WillieB]

As far as i know, most of the business interests in the Congo were from the industrial Walloon side.

@Michel Van is the man for this question.

Actually the Congo was largely ran by a British company The Anglo Belgian Indian Rubber Company. Very few Belgians, including Leopold II were involved.

 

[yulzari]

Independence followed by chaos, corruption, misery, exploitation, inter tribal violence and brutal dictatorship. In other words just like otl but only 10 years earlier.

Yes, but what about the Congo?.....

 

[El Pip]

Actually the Congo was largely ran by a British company The Anglo Belgian Indian Rubber Company. Very few Belgians, including Leopold II were involved.

I admire the efforts of Belgium to dodge its crimes, but this appears to be untrue. From wiki:

"The company was founded with British and Belgian capital and was based in Belgium. By 1898 there were no longer any British shareholders and the Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company changed its name to the Abir Congo Company and changed its residence for tax purposes to the Free State "

And of course it was the British consul Casemate who pushed very hard to expose what Belgium was doing in the Congo. This one is all on the Belgians I'm afraid

 

[Derek Pullem]

Actually the Congo was largely ran by a British company The Anglo Belgian Indian Rubber Company. Very few Belgians, including Leopold II were involved.

Breathtaking attempt at deflection there. ABIR was only one of nine concessions. Whilst the method of gathering rubber was set up when it's majority shareholders were British, the vast majority of the deaths and mutilations occurred after Belgians had full control due mainly to the increasing price of rubber and over exploitation of the resources from the turn of the century onwards.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/181099

 

[JohnBull]

Few years ago, I read somewhere that after WWII there were attempts to introduce Dutch language in the Congo in a way to appease Flemish feelings back home, as they were growing more assertive and challenging the Francophone dominance.

Maybe some forumer could tell us more about it.

 

[WillieB]

I admire the efforts of Belgium to dodge its crimes, but this appears to be untrue. From wiki:

"The company was founded with British and Belgian capital and was based in Belgium. By 1898 there were no longer any British shareholders and the Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company changed its name to the Abir Congo Company and changed its residence for tax purposes to the Free State "

And of course it was the British consul Casemate who pushed very hard to expose what Belgium was doing in the Congo. This one is all on the Belgians I'm afraid

82% British and less than 18% Belgian( or Portuguese, Swiss and American) The transfer of shares happened largely after Sir Roger Casement's involvement.
BTW Sir Roger Casement was an IRISH lord. The British hanged him for his involvement in the Easter Rising and didn't repatriate his body( which was buried in quicklime) to his family for decades.