I N T E G R A T E D S I M U L A T I O N " S A V I N G A D R O W N I N G M A N C O N G O C R I S I S O F 1 9 6 0 " CONAKAT KATANGA SEPARATISTS State of Katanga Introduction The region of Katanga is located in the southeast corner of the Belgian Congo (present- day Democratic Republic of the Congo) bordering Zambia and Angola. The mineral-rich territory contains large deposits of copper, cobalt, zinc, uranium, cadmium, silver, germanium, coal, gold, iron, manganese, and tin, which enticed Belgian colonial powers to explore, extract, and exploit the region as it yielded the most amount of mineral ore in all of the Belgian Congo. Since the official inauguration of Katanga in 1891 until its secession in 1960 as the State of Katanga, it has been the site of colonial resistance and resource exploitation, at incredible human cost. The atrocities committed prior to the annexation of the Congo Free State as the Belgian Congo and the segregated state that followed, and the subsequent bid for independence of the region and the State have gained international spotlight, and are the concern of this committee to oversee and mediate. Historical Overview European exploration into Africa The region of Katanga was home to Khosian and Pygmy hunter-gathers until Bantu immigration in 500BCE. European exploration into the region by the Belgian Crown in the 1870s, specifically the Congo River basin, led to the formation of the Committee for Studies of the Upper Congo in 1877. By 1884, 450 treaties were signed between independent African leaders in the territory and the Belgian authority that gave the Europeans governing power the region. At the 1884-85 Berlin West Africa Conference, European colonial powers recognized the Congo Free State as a territory ruled by the Belgian Monarchy (Encyclopedia Britannica). The Scramble for Katanga As part of the 1885 Berlin West Africa Conference agreement between Britain and Belgium, the state north and west of the Luapula Lake/River Mweru, known as the state of Katanga, belonged to Belgium. However, until 1891 there was no European colonial power active in Katanga (known as Garanganze to the African population living there), which was governed by the affluent African chief, Msiri. (Moloney, 90- 170) Both British and Belgian forces sent missions to Katanga to gain control of the territory after failed negotiations with Msiri, British commanders killed the chief and were fatally injured in return. As a result, King Leopold II secured Katanga as a Belgian territory separate from the Congo Free State, but still under his personal ownership. It wasn’t until 1908, after instability from the slave trade and international outcry against the exploitation of the region by the Belgian authority that the two major regions were amalgamated. By integrating Katanga and annexing the Congo Free State, the territory transitioned from being King Leopold’s personal property to a colony named the Belgian Congo until its independence in 1960 (Encyclopedia Britannica). Map of the Belgian Congo prior to independence in 1960 Resource Extraction and Enslavement of African peoples Since the recognition of the Congo Free State as a Belgian territory, slave and forced labour was utilized in the extraction of mineral ore and rubber under brutal conditions, which killed much of the indigenous African population. Due to lack of bookkeeping during the time of the Congo Free State, exact figures of how many enslaved Africans were killed or mutilated as a result of enslavement is unknown. Some sources estimate that upwards of 10 million Congolese were killed between 1885 and 1960 (Hothschild). Rebellions broke out as early as 1919 that took years to disable. Groups such as 2 Kimbanguism, the Negro Mission, and Kitawala were anti-missionary groups in the Belgian Congo that were active during its existence. The Force Publique, was a group of Congolese men trained and led by Belgian commanders in the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo. This police force was responsible for overseeing labour and ordering, executing and encouraging bodily mutilations, torture, the taking of hostages, indiscriminate killing of indigenous villages, and cruel punishments for work deemed inadequate (Encyclopedia Britannica, Hothschild). Current Conditions and Relevant International Action Creation of the Independent Congo and Succession of Katanga On June 30th, 1960, leaders of the Mouvement nationale congolaise, President Joseph Kasa Vubu and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba who shared executive power, declared the territory a sovereign nation, free from Belgian rule. On July 11th, 1960, Katanga seceded from the Independent Congo under the rule of self-proclaimed President Moise Tshombe, leader of the CONAKAT party. Belgian forces were in support of an independent Katanga that would maintain favorable economic ties with Belgium as well as protect mining interests in the mineral-rich region, rather than a united, independent Congo. Shortly after the secession of Katanga on July 14th, 1960, the United Nations Security Council agreed to send peacekeeping forces to Katanga to protect Belgian nationals. In an inspired speech, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba called for a new era of self-governance, social justice, and African unity free from the influence of European colonial powers. On July 12th, 1960, following this speech and the mutiny of the Force Publique, the independent government of Congo called on the United Nations for military assistance to protect the territory from Belgian troops who were sent in to defend Belgian nationals and interests; a move considered to be an infringement on the sovereignty of the Independent Congo. Two days later, the United Nations Security Council ordered a withdrawal of all Belgian troops from the Independent Congo (Lumumba 44-47). 3 Patrice Lumumba addressing the nation on Independence Day, June 30th, 1960 Mutiny of the Force Publique Following Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba’s speech, members of the Force Publique expected the chain of command to integrate Congolese soldiers as equals in terms of opportunity for promotion, wages, and job security. Belgian commanders denied any change in protocol as a result of independence, adopting the phrase “before independence = after independence.” On July 5th, the Thysville squadron of the Force Publique mutinied against their commanders, influencing similar uprisings in Leopoldville. Eventually, the Belgian government sent troops to restore order and protect Belgians, following reports of atrocities committed against whites. By doing so, the Belgian government infringed upon the sovereignty of the newly Independent Congo, which led to Lumumba calling for all Congolese to defend the sovereignty of their territory from imposing colonial powers. Eventually, in order to quell the mutiny, Lumumba renamed the Force Publique, the Armée nationale Congolese, and promoted all black officers by one rank (Zeilig 107-111). Issues to be addressed Uranium Deposits What is the international community’s role in the control of mineral extraction by companies that are active in the region, if the purpose of the extraction is known to be for the manufacturing of nuclear arms. 4 Soviet support for Lumumba Does a newly independent state have to declare an aligned status and if so, what support or protections will the United Nations offer these states as a result of their decision to join or offer support to alliances or nations? South Kasai Province potential secession In the South of Katanga, there is a growing independence movement in the Kasai Province, led by Albert Kalonji, on the basis of ethnic land rights (the Baluba people). South Kasai is also a mineral rich territory with a heavy colonial presence; there are Belgian mining companies (Forminière, Union Minière du Haut Katanga) that are willing to offer financial and military support to political parties that will cooperate with mining developments in the region due to the abundance of diamonds in South Kasai (Douglas-Bowers) The Future of the Force Publique A rogue police force made up of locals who are trained in military and policing tactics can turn into a paramilitary group or militia if mutinies continue or if a stable police force is not established. Following independence and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba’s speech calling for an end to racial discrimination, the Force Publique demanded equal pay, promotion, and worker’s rights from their Belgian commanders only to be told that the chain of command would remain the same. As a result, on July 5th, several units in Thysville mutinied against their white commanders, leading to rebellions in Léopoldville and cities across the country. Mercenaries Belgian institutions were recruiting mercenaries to defend the independent Katanga. Britain and the United States of America also supported the independent Katangese state. These mercenary groups undermine the role of established police and military forces and act as parastate entities potentially endangering the lives of civilians. 5 Analysis and Job of the Committee o Mediate peace negotiations between the governments of the Congo, President Patrice Lumumba of the Mouvement national congolais, and of the independent State of Katanga, President Moise Kapenda Tshombe of the CONAKAT ruling party. o Controlling the economic and military pressure of Belgium and other European colonial powers being imposed on newly independent African states. Decreasing the chance of further political and economic exploitation of states in the process of de-colonizing their governments. o Preventing future human rights abuses in the newly independent Congo, and the State of Katanga. o Implementing initiatives, institutions, and/or bodies to uphold international standards of legitimate statehood, state sovereignty, democratic transparency in government practices and institutions, and commissions responsible for investigating possible human rights abuses and war crimes in the region during the crisis. o Peacekeeping in areas of disputed territory, tensions between indigenous Congolese and political actors, and where persons at high risk of being political targets organize.