Figure 1.--Here a group pf Congolese children play with toy guns, we think during an indeoende celebration. Uou can see what we beliee are Force Publique soldiers in the background. The Congolese politicans who demanded that Belgium leave now had to contend with the Force Publique on their own. None imagined that they would have any trouble from Congolese soldiers. Only 5 days after the Congo gained independence from Belgium, the Force Publique garrison near Léopoldville mutinied against their white officers (July 5). They were legedly incited by racist remarks from ther commanding officer. The Congolese soldiers began attacking numerous European and Congolese targets. Here the children are only playing. Soon after child soldiers would be recruited and equipped with real weapons as Congo descenced into chao.

The Force Publique (Openbare Weermacht) was a gendarmerie and military force in the Belgian Congo. It was estanlished in the Congo Free State (1885). Under King Leopold it was used to enforce the nototious rubber quotas and other forms of forced labor. It was resonsible for terrible atrocities. The Force Publiqu continued to mintain order through the period of direct Belgian colonial rule (1908-1960). Officers in the were without exception white Belgians. In the Belgian colonial army, Africans could not rise higher than the rank of sergeant-major. The soldiers of the Force Publique, renamed the new Congolese National Army (ANC), proved difficult to control after independence. They had the guns and were disinclined to take orders from the new civilian Congo Government. The Belgian Government had only began to address the white officer issue in the rush to independence. The first Congolese officer cadets had not yet completed their officer training courses. The Congolese politicans who demanded that Belgium leave now had to contend with the Force Publique on their own. None imagined that they would have any trouble from Congolese soldiers. Only 5 days after the Congo gained independence from Belgium, the Force Publique garrison near Léopoldville mutinied against their white officers (July 5). They were legedly incited by racist remarks from ther commanding officer. The Congolese soldiers began attacking numerous European and Congolese targets. Prime-minister Lumumba attempted to apease the soldiers (early-July 1960). He moved to dismiss the Belgian officers and replace them with Congolese. The job of issuing new commissions was put in the hands of Minister of Defense Joseph Mobutu. The patronage involved would made him a major figure in the developing Congolese Army. The rebellion against the new Government threw the Congo into complete chaos. No one was able to control the situation. The firey Lumumba was popular among the public, but had no support among the soldiers.

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Created: 3:59 PM 10/12/2016
Last updated: 3:59 PM 10/12/2016