Q&A: At 60, DRC still plagued by colonial mentality
Al JazeeraJune 30 marks the 60th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s independence from Belgium. To mark the DRC’s 60th independence anniversary, Al Jazeera spoke to Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, a prominent scholar on African politics and author of The Congo from Leopold to Kabila, to discuss the impact of colonial rule on DRC, recent political developments in the country and what might come next. Al Jazeera: What has been the lasting effect of King Leopold II’s rule on the politics and people in the DRC? Al Jazeera: Should we still pinpoint blame on the Belgian colonial rulers for what is happening in the country’s politics today, or are there other national and regional factors that are also responsible? The Congolese leaders are the ones who followed into the footsteps of King Leopold in treating the state as their personal property and neglecting the people, the most important element in any country.
History of this topic
Behind Congo’s misery
The Hindu
Belgian king expresses ‘regrets’ over colonial past in Congo
The Independent
Belgium’s King Philippe sends ‘regrets’ to Congo for Leopold II atrocities
CNN
Who was Leopold II, why did Belgium’s Antwerp remove his statue?
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