The government was forced to borrow heavily from abroad to finance foreign trade (i.e., importing of foreign goods) and to sustain its generous social welfare system. Consequently, as German interest rates rose after 1990, Belgian rates have increased and contributed to a decline in the economic growth rate. [20] Foreign companies in Belgium account for approximately 11% of the total work force, with the U.S. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From the 1950s, a broad movement formed in Congo Belge to protest against Belgian foreign rule. Imagine if there was a man who slaughtered your family, but he was rich and gave money to the city. Joseph Kasavubu was elected the first president, with Patrice Lumumba as prime minister. The port houses, among others, big companies like ArcelorMittal, Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Parts, Honda, and Stora Enso. 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. Government Spending in Belgium increased to 27582 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 27324 EUR Million in the third quarter of 2022. The economy of the region is now diversified, the most important centers are mechanical industries (aircraft engine and Spacecraft propulsion), space technology, information technology, biotechnology and also production of water, beer or chocolate. This sham was supposedly a scientific and philanthropic organization which would greatly improve the lives of native Africans by converting them to Christianity, ending the trade of enslaved people, and introducing European health and educational systems. A large statue of him, outside the royal palace, has been vandalised repeatedly, most recently during a Black Lives Matter protest. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Events Leading to the Scramble for Africa, Congo Free State Rubber Regime Atrocities, The Dutch Empire: Three Centuries on Five Continents, What Is Colonialism? It was the first time a reigning monarch of Belgium expressed such regret, although he stopped short of formally apologising. Although some of that money was used for Leopolds little projects and settling debts, much of it went directly to his pocket as well. 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. During the 19th century, iron ore and zinc deposits in the Sambre-Meuse valley were heavily exploited. The industrial complex of Seraing was the largest in the world. Before 1874. The current countries of Rwanda and Burundi were once colonized by the Germans, who named the region Ruanda-Urundi. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. With his leopardskin hat and his throne, the old manipulator still looked the part, but in a country the size of western Europe he was losing control. Large plantations (growing cotton, oil palms, coffee, cacao, and rubber) and livestock farms were developed. Belgium helped prop up a dictator named Joseph Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko who ruled from 1965 to . It was the first time a Belgian head of state had done this in that way a paradigmatic turning point in the countrys historical policy. I want the government to accept that Belgium, and its king, created a lot of suffering in the Congo. Antwerp is the first diamond market in the world, diamond exports account for roughly 1/10 of Belgian exports. Charleroi features an industrial area, iron and steel industry, glassworks, chemicals, and electrical engineering. Growth of the forest industry after World War II has been aided by mechanization, allowing Belgium to reduce its reliance on imported timber. $578 billion (nominal, 2021 est.). European adventurers experienced great difficulty in exploring and colonizing the Congo River Basin, due to the region's tropical climate, disease, and the resistance of the natives. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Painter's rural idyll irks Russian villagers. Today, Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe. In the early 1980s the government attempted to reduce the budget deficit; the debt-to-GDP ratio decreased as tighter monetary and fiscal policies were implemented by the central bank. The colonial rule was romantically glorified in Belgium. With the expansion of domestic and commercial needs in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, increasing attention focused on problems of water quality and supply. Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony (coextensive with the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. The corridor between Antwerp and Brussels also has emerged as a major manufacturing zone, eclipsing the older industrial concentration in the Sambre-Meuse valley. Between 1884 and 1885, there were a series of negotiations between European powers to formalise claims to territory in Africa. Under the reign of terror instituted by King Leopold II of Belgium (who ran the Congo Free State as his personal fief from 1885 to 1908), the population of the Congo was reduced by half with some estimates suggesting that as many as 10 million Congolese lost their lives. Diplomatic talks and pressure from many quarters would later make Leopold II renounce his . Belgium has a free-enterprise economy, with the majority of the gross domestic product (GDP) generated by the service sector. The King made 70 million Belgian francs profit from the system between 1896 and 1905. He quickly disregarded all of his Berlin Conference guidelines and began to economically exploit the region's land and inhabitants. 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. Back then the liberal union was known as the "Nationale Centrale der Liberale Vakbonden van Belgi". read more. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Economic growth rose from 2% in 1984 to a peak of 4% in 1989. Belgium Colonialism. In the past, Lige was one of the most important steel-making centres in Europe. 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. "Belgium Colonialism." He was assassinated by his political opponents in Katanga in January 1961 with the help of Belgian and US secret services. In addition, sands from the Kempenland supply the glass-manufacturing industry, and clays from the Borinage are used for pottery products and bricks. Exports in Congo decreased to 15031.30 USD Million in 2019 from 15966.80 USD Million in 2018. The southern region continues a difficult transition out of sunset industries (mainly coal and steel), while sunrise industries (chemicals, high-tech, and services) dominate in Flanders. This disparity began to fade during the interwar period. The different current economic situations prove this historically generated discrepancy for which there must be a compensation. Your email address will not be published. King Leopold and his European rivals created the conditions for chaos in Congo a century ago, the most the former colonial powers will do now is withdraw their nationals and stand well back. Lige Science Park south east of the city, near the University of Lige campus, houses spin-offs and high technology businesses. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many users needs. Metallurgy, steel, textiles, chemicals, glass, paper, and food processing are the dominant industries. Much of that money, Hochschild suggests, went to buying Leopold's teen-age mistress, a former call girl named Caroline, expensive dresses and villas, and building ever grander . The Belgian authorities are, as a rule, anti-protectionist and try to maintain a hospitable and open trade and investment climate. It must negotiate politically on an equal footing with its former colonies. However, this was much less than the payment Europeans received for the same work. In the interior, gold, diamonds, copper, tin, cobalt, and zinc were mined; the colony became an important source of uranium for the United States during World War II. The older, traditional industries of Wallonia, particularly steel industry, began to lose their competitive edge during this period, but the general growth of world prosperity masked this deterioration until the 1973 and 1979 oil price shocks and resultant shifts in international demand sent the economy into a period of prolonged recession. Tourism is increasingly becoming a major employer in the local area. However, as nuclear reactors generate more than half of Belgiums electricity, the use of water for cooling in nuclear power stations is much more significant. Leopold's army mutilated or killed any African who didn't produce enough of these coveted, profitable resources. 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. The Ghent University, the second largest university of Belgium by number of students, and a number of research oriented companies are situated in the central and southern part of the city. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.9% of GDP, while agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP. 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. Needless to say, Caroline profited greatly from the King's attention, earning her the nickname "Queen of the Congo.". Besides these "big three" there are a number of smaller unions, some more influential than others. 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. Some historians refer to this as a genocide. The first nationwide Congolese political party, the Congo National Movement, was launched in 1958 by Patrice Lumumba and other Congolese leaders. Because political associations were prohibited at the time, reformers organized into cultural clubs such as Abako, a Bakongo association formed in 1950. The federal government has not managed to present balanced budgets in recent years and public debt remains high, at 99% of 2009 GDP. The Belgian Government reacted to the 1973 and 1979 oil price hikes by hiring the redundant work force into the public sector and subsidizing industries like coal, steel, textiles, glass, and shipbuilding, which had lost their international competitive edge. Belgium has a free-enterprise economy, with the majority of the gross domestic product (GDP) generated by the service sector. Under pressure from Britain and the United States, Leopold turned over ownership of the Congo Free State to the Belgian government in 1908. The doors are often closed to us. The most deciding event in precipitating the war was the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994, which sparked a mass exodus of refugees known as the Great Lakes refugee crisis. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga/AFP via Getty Images, Lecturer in Environmental Art - School of Art and Design. Foreign investment led to considerable growth in the engineering sector of Belgiums economy in the late 20th century. The ABVV-FGTB in its current form dates back to 1945. Historically, coal was Belgiums most important mineral resource. Anti-European religious groups were active by the 1920s, including Kimbanguism and the Negro Mission in the west and Kitawala in the southeast. [26] The ACLVB-CGSLB was founded in 1920 in an effort to unite the many small liberal unions. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, However, Leopold II is still commemorated with statues and monuments across Brussels. During the conference, Belgian King Leopold II obtained international legitimacy for the ownership of the lands in what is now the Congo. We spoke to Julien Bobineau, who has researched the narratives around Belgiums history with the Congo, about the visit. * In 2020, Belgiums current king, Philippe expressed deep regret for the suffering and humiliation inflicted on Congo during its 75 years under Belgian rule. The scandal which eventually shamed the Belgian Government to bring to an end Leopold's 20 years of despoiling the Congo was the discovery that his agents had been using forced labour to harvest rubber - a highly sought-after commodity at the time. [19], Belgium's economy has capitalised on the country's central geographic location, and has a well-developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. We use They remind people of the bad things that have happened. Farms, with their closed courts, range in size from 75 to 250 acres (30 to 100 hectares). The second stage is that it is absolutely necessary that children are taught the reality of what happened in Congo. Definition and Examples. The photo was taken in 1904 at a missionary outpost in Baringa, in what was then called the Congo Free State. Young men in combat trousers stood by the roadside selling looted goods - tennis rackets, a toilet bowl, a fish tank. If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for $69 per month. However, thanks to Belgium's high personal savings rate, the Belgian Government financed the deficit from mainly domestic savings, minimizing the deleterious effects on the overall economy.[20]. 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. Belgium's accumulated public debt remains high at 99% of 2009 GDP. "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. It is estimated that about half of the then 20 million inhabitants of the Congo lost their lives due to the conditions people had to endure to extract raw materials, mainly of rubber. Two civil wars in DRC have turned into the world's deadliest conflict since World War II. Reuters. I have lived in Belgium for 40 years now. Required fields are marked *. The answer is that it comes from Congolese blood. 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. These efforts were moderately successful, but they left Belgium with one of the largest budget deficits in relation to gross national product in Europe. After the takeover, the country was renamed Congo Belge, but the interests remained the same. After many years of segregation, the tension erupted into the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 850,000 people died. [20], Foreign investment contributed significantly to Belgian economic growth in the 1960s. The Belgian economy also is inextricably tied to that of Europe. Belgium was, of course, the colonial power in Congo until 1960, and links between the two countries remain strong. Africa's most rapacious modern leader had failed to pay his soldiers and there had been a spasm of rioting and looting. Case study: The Democratic Republic of Congo. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has few natural resources other than fertile soils. The Congo had just as much a civilization as most European countries during the 16. th. DRC was known as Zaire from 1971-1997. We support credit card, debit card and PayPal payments. Antwerp is also known for diamond cutting and dealing. 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 federal government ran a 7.1% budget deficit in 1992 at the time of the EU's Treaty of Maastricht, which established conditions for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) that led to adoption of the common Euro currency on 1 January 2002. On 1 May 1998, Belgium became a first-tier member of the European Monetary Union. Maybe burnt down your village. Annually about 2.5 million day tourists visit the city and in 2007 there were about 1.4 million overnight stays. Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 In the end, Leopold's own ministers took his private fiefdom from him and his vast territories became the Belgian Congo - to distinguish them from the French colony on the other side of the Congo River. Leopold - as king of a small, newly-formed European country - told his advisers that Belgium must have an empire and by 1885, he had one. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Leopold II tried mightily to conceal this abuse from the international public. In the Congo Free State, Congolese hands were sys- tematically amputated when enslaved Africans failed to meet quotas for extract- ing rubber. Theres a dark history between Belgium and the DRC that started in the 19th century. The third major multi-sector union in Belgium is the liberal (classical liberal) union General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (ACLVB-CGSLB) which is relatively small in comparison to the first two with a little under 290 thousand members. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Killed her. Among other criteria spelled out under the Maastricht treaty, the Belgian Government had to attain a budget deficit of no greater than 3% of GDP by the end of 1997; Belgium achieved this, with a total budget deficit in 2001 (just prior to implementation of the Euro) that amounted to 0.2% of GDP. But once again, the money to pay for this symbol of grandeur was squeezed from the Congo. More information about the Democratic Republic of the Congo is available on the . In the letter, the king expressed his deep regret for the colonial injustices committed in the Congo. However, agricultural activity in Belgium centres primarily on livestock; dairy and meat products constitute more than two-thirds of the total farm value. Belgium switched from the Belgian franc to the Euro as its currency after 1 January 2002. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Is it enough to just say sorry and ask for forgiveness? Uriel Sinai / Stringer/ Getty Images News/ Getty Images, Exploration of and Claims to the Congo River Basin, Independence for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964. People ask me about the statues. It's because of him that the Congolese were slaughtered, that children had their hands and feet cut off. The first major step Belgium took . I cannot say here how many millions or billions Belgium has to pay, but one thing is certain: the Belgian government has the opportunity to say that it wants to fix what was done. On the same day, then Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilms also expressed her regret regarding Belgiums colonial past. 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. In the south a modest hydroelectric power industry has developed along fast-moving streams. The Belgian Government encourages new foreign investment as a means to promote employment. Next to these specialized unions there is also the Neutral and Independent Union that rejects the pillarization of the "big three" trade unions (their affiliation with political parties). A rebellion broke out in several eastern districts in 1919 and was not suppressed until 1923. At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, . Sixty years after Congo gained its independence, the Belgian king has expressed his "deepest regrets" for the suffering his nation caused as a colonial power. The country, which entered slave trade in the 16th century, carried more than 3 million Africans beyond the Atlantic until it abolished slavery in 1833, according to data in the British national archive. The Congo is a massive country, the size of Western Europe. You can still enjoy your subscription until the end of your current billing period. The following table shows the main economic indicators in 19802021 (with IMF staff estimates in 20222027). African stakeholders were not involved in the negotiations. The Congo has been utterly cursed by its natural wealth. With limited education about Belgium's rule in Congo, there is little awareness of the brutality of its colonial past in the broader society. He took Congo as his own personal possession and made himself rich. Belgium is one of the worlds leading processors of cobalt, radium, copper, zinc, and lead. After slavery was officially abolished in 1910, Congolese workers received a wage for their work in the mines and on the plantations. As in other industrialized nations, pension and other social entitlement programs have become a major economic and political concern as the baby boomers approach retirement age. Lige is also a very important logistic center: the city possesses the third largest river port in Europe, directly connected to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Germany via the Meuse river and the Albert Canal. But even by the standards of the day, Leopold's attitude to his colony was ruthless and exploitative. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more. 11 Buildings That Reveal Belgiums History, Which Country Is Larger By Population? 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? The broad debate alone can only be conducted in Belgian society alongside Congolese actors. About 80% of Belgium's trade is with fellow EU member states. For many Congolese in the diaspora in Belgium and in the Congo, this doesnt go far enough. As a possession of Belgium, the Congo Free State became known as the Belgian Congo. Links to more From Our Own Correspondent stories, Brussels would have been a very different city without its Congo connection, Even by the standards of the day, Leopold's attitude to his colony was ruthless and exploitative, Perhaps Congo is too big a country to be governed as a single state. On February 5, 1885, Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State by brutally seizing the African landmass as his personal possession. Some Belgian families still remember their relatives who served in Congo and the tradition of "Black Pete" - a clownish servant portrayed by white people in Blackface, helping St. Nicholas bring gifts to children - remains popular though is increasingly seen as discriminatory. The United States established diplomatic relations with the DRC in 1960, following its independence from Belgium. [33] It also is the world's largest port for the import and export of new vehicles. Here are some facts about Belgian rule and the two countries' difficult bilateral ties since. Belgian King Philippe and his wife Queen Mathilde recently led a delegation on a week-long visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Moreover, water pollution is a serious problem. Like a lot of people, I suppose I am a mixture of Belgian and Congolese. How should Belgium reconcile with its brutal past? The first is when Joseph-Dsir Mobutu came to power in 1965. 1909 The Congo Reform Association, founded in Britain, ends forced labor in the Congo Free State, today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Brussels, Leopold left his mark in stone - in monuments and buildings. The country is yet to return to Congo a tooth, suspected to be the only remains of Lumumba, after his body was dug up by Belgian police in Congo and disposed of. Richard, Katherine Schulz. In 199293, the Belgian economy suffered the worst recession since World War II, with the real GDP declining 1.7% in 1993. Regions that were hard to access or lacked profitable resources escaped much of the . 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. The people of the Congo were forced to labor for valued resources, including rubber and ivory, to personally enrich Leopold. In 1930, the ACLVB-CGSLB adopted its current name.[27]. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Many of these peoples spoke Bantu languages. The man's name was Nsala and his wife and children had just been killed. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. 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. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. With exports equivalent to over two-thirds of GNP, Belgium depends heavily on world trade. There are plenty of statues of Leopold II in this country and my opinion is that they belong in museums. [21], For 50 years through World War II, French-speaking Wallonia was a technically advanced, industrial region, with its industry concentrated along the sillon industriel, while Dutch-speaking Flanders was predominantly agricultural with some industry, mainly processing agricultural products and textiles. Because if there were not Congo, Belgium would not be a rich country. 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. From 1885 to 1908, Belgian King Leopold II took control of the Congo. This does not count the enormous amount of money paid by Belgium to purchase Free State from Leopold which was also roughly the same amount of money in today's dollars. Belgium is the sixth richest country in the world: this has been confirmed in the recent edition of the Allianz Global Wealth Report 2016. Assistant Professor, Julius Maximilian University of Wrzburg. Due to industrialization, objects such as tires were now required in mass in Europe; thus, the African natives were forced to produce ivory and rubber. Estimates vary, but about half the Congolese population died from punishment and malnutrition. 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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.
how much money did belgium make from the congo
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