Alright, let’s talk about something that history books conveniently left out, something that has been sugarcoated, whitewashed, and buried under layers of self-congratulatory nonsense: the absolute mess Belgium (and the U.S.) made in Congo.
Like you, I grew up hearing a very different version of events. “Oh, we brought civilization!” “Oh, we built infrastructure!” “Oh, we gave them independence!” Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? But the reality? The reality is that Belgium—and later, the U.S.—didn’t just screw over Congo; they turned it into a dystopian nightmare, and Mobutu was their golden boy, their carefully groomed dictator, their pet project in corruption.
King Leopold’s Ghost Never Left
If you’ve read King Leopold’s Ghost, you already know Belgium’s little “adventure” in Congo was nothing short of a horror movie. Rubber quotas, severed hands, and a level of brutality that would make even the most ruthless colonial empires flinch. But hey, we were told it was about “helping” the Congolese. Helping them into mass exploitation, sure, but let’s not get bogged down in details.
Fast forward to 1960, and Belgium “graciously” hands Congo its independence. Sounds good, right? Freedom at last! Democracy! The people rule! …Except that’s not what happened. The second Congo tried to govern itself, the West panicked. Why? Because Patrice Lumumba—the country’s first democratically elected Prime Minister—wasn’t willing to play puppet. He had crazy ideas like national sovereignty and not handing over Congo’s resources to foreign powers. The audacity! So, what did the good ol’ U.S. and Belgium do? They had him assassinated.
Enter Mobutu: The Ultimate Puppet Master
And here’s where it gets even worse. With Lumumba out of the picture, the West needed someone reliable, someone greedy, someone who would sell out his own people for power and a golden throne. Enter Mobutu Sese Seko, a man who took kleptocracy to Olympic levels.
Mobutu ruled for 32 years, looting the country like it was his personal piggy bank while dressing like an African James Bond villain. He renamed the country Zaire, forced people to adopt “authentic” African names (while hoarding designer suits), and told the world he was the savior of Congo—all while living in a palace with air-conditioned leopard cages. Yes, really.
And the West? They loved him. He was “our guy.” He kept the Soviets out. He let Western companies pillage Congo’s natural resources without interference. He crushed opposition. And in return? The U.S. and Belgium sent him money, weapons, and a never-ending supply of international legitimacy.
Meanwhile, the Congolese people were starving. Schools crumbled, hospitals were non-existent, infrastructure rotted. But Mobutu? Oh, he partied. He flew Concorde jets to Switzerland for shopping trips. He pocketed billions while the people suffered. And the world clapped.
Why This Matters Today
This isn’t just history. The legacy of what Belgium and the U.S. did in Congo is still alive. The country, rich in minerals, remains in chaos, still exploited by foreign interests. The instability we see today? It didn’t just happen—it was engineered.
So, if you’re feeling shocked, disgusted, and betrayed by the version of history you were taught—good. You should be. This is what happens when we don’t question the narratives we’ve been spoon-fed.
But here’s the thing: outrage isn’t enough. The least we can do is acknowledge the truth, demand accountability, and support the Congolese people in their fight for justice and sovereignty.
Because history isn’t just about what happened—it’s about what we do with it now.
📸 images
All images created bu Grok 2 using my own prompts.
Not created by Dall-E, as the subject was too sensitive.
Also not photographed by myself, as ive never been there to witness the beauty of this country, and the pain our country has caused.
Would love to go there, but i can imagine the people there are not waiting for another Belgian.
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