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Home , Belgian Congo, Congo Free State, Congo river

Historical Security Council

Addressing 's crimes in the Free State

Director: Mauricio Quintero Obelink Moderator: Arantxa Marin Limón

INTRODUCTION

The Security Council is one of the six main organs of the United Nations. Its five principle purposes are to “maintain international peace and security, to develop diplomatic relations among nations, to cooperate in solving international problems, promote respect for human rights, and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations” (What is the Security Council?, n.d.). The Committee is made up of 10 elected members and 5 permanent members (, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, ), all of which have veto power, which ultimately allows them to block proposed resolutions. As previously mentioned, the Security Council focuses on international matters regarding diplomatic relations, as well as the establishment of human rights protocols. For this reason, Belgium’s occupation of the greater Congo area is a topic of relevance within the committee. The was a large territory in established by the Belgian Crown in 1885, and lasted until 1908. It was created after Leopold II commissioned European investors to explore and establish the land as European territory in order to gain international, economic; and political power. When the Belgian military gained power over the Congo territory, natives included, inhumane crimes were committed towards the inhabitants, all while under Leopold II’s supervision and approval. For this reason, King Leopold II’s actions, as well as the direct crimes committed by his army, must be held accountable in order to bring justice to the territory and its people. This specific topic of discussion is closely related to the Sustainable Development Goal of peace, justice, and strong institutions. The purpose of this goal is to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” (Sustainable Development Goal 16, n.d). The committee’s main objectives for the topic of Belgium’s crimes in the Congo Free State is to achieve peaceful and unified societies while providing access to justice for all.

I. HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM The Congo Free State was a former of Africa from 1885 to 1908. It occupied an area that almost entirely covered the basin. It was established in the 1880’s by Leopold II with his personal goal being to acquire a large area of land in Africa, ultimately exploiting it for personal wealth. The Congo Free Sate’s native inhabitants were largely abused and forced into , working under extreme conditions, following Leopold II’s commands. The investors of

1 Congo Free State “made a substantial profit from rubber production at the expense of the ” (Pimentel, 2019). The situation in the Congo Colony has been an ongoing issue for over 20 years, yet it started as a result of the , which took place during 1884 and 1885. The outcome of the conference ultimately allowed for the atrocities seen in the African continent to be carried out. The topics discussed in the conference were all regarding territorial claims of Africa. As of now, several European nations, including Great Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium, have taken control of portions of Africa and have taken advantage of the natural resources found in their respective territory. Diamonds, rubber, gold, oil and iron are a few of the resources sought after by the previously mentioned European powers (Natural Resources In…, n.d.) In addition to mining resources, another resource that is being exported in mass amounts is latex, collected from the forests; another reason that makes african territories a wanted place for european powers (Brum, M., n.d.). During his 44 year long reign, Leopold II wanted to modernize Belgium by using imperialism like many other countries were doing (McKenna, n.d.). He acquired the area in Congo, which was ”an astonishing 76 times the size of Belgium”, by using his diplomatic powers (Stanley, 2012). He promised to bring civilization to the continent, yet created a slave plantation instead. When demand for rubber around the world increased, Leopold II took advantage of Congolese labor, as well as their land. Taking advantage of the resources present, Belgium increased its overall exports, which ultimately led to an increased wealth for the small European nation. Under Leopold II’s control, Congolese were made slaves and put under extreme inhumane conditions. The workers were forced into jungles to “slash down vines and layer their bodies with rubber latex. Later they would scrape it off their skin – often taking flesh and hair with it” (Stanley, 2012). Gendarmeries (armed authorities in Congo under Leopold II’s control) often used their

2 weapons and ammunition provided to hunt for their personal benefits. Belgian authorities worried about bullets being wasted so they demanded a hand for every bullet the soldiers used, “as proof that the killings had been done” (Thompsell, 2018). Often, gendarmes would cut Congolese’s hands off just to provide the correct bullet-body rate, when in reality the Congolese were not killed and simply exploited. Congolese workers faced physical and mental abuse from the Congo Free State administartion in all kinds of ways including looting, murder and . It is estimated that there were more than 10 million victims while Leopold II was in control.

II. CURRENT SITUATION As a result of the aforementioned crimes, the Congolese population has been declining radically since the beginning of the Belgian establishment in 1885. Due to unprecedented violent crimes and abuse of power; birth rates have decreased, diseases have surfaced and thrived amongst the Congolese people, poverty has multiplied; and the death rate is increasing at an alarming pace. The Congo Free State is under the control of the Belgian Crown and has no chance of receiving a fair and just quality of life; the situation has not improved (Brum, M., n.d.) On account of the natural resources, european powers have not hesitated in taking control of African nations. In regards to the Congo Free State, Belgian troops in charge of controlling the Congolese population have been systematically abusing their power. The soldiers have been assigned to maintain complete control of the population, orders received by higher ranking officials. Including full cooperation, supervisors and leaders of military troops are ordering soldiers to bring the head of every victim as proof of a life taken by the soldier. To motivate soldiers, their superiors are shortening their time of service if they bring them human hands; hands that belong to the Congolese, the soldier that brings the most hands would spend shorter time in service (Brum, M., n.d.). Along with this, King Leopold II founded a military group () with the sole task of controlling mining areas. The group has been proven to be dangerous because it recruits men that have previous experience in military forces. Not only being conformed by people with military experience, one of the qualities that members of the group have is being white and having a history of committing violence (Thompsell, 2018). The crimes that are being committed and are known of are the following: forced labor, violence coercion, hate crimes, discrimination, and taking lives. It is estimated that just from

3 sleeping sickness, around 500,000 Congolese lost their lives. The amount of citizens that are suffering from these crimes and deseasing is unprecedented in this nation. These are all occurring without any consequences enforced by the Belgian nation and European countries involved because the perpetrators are following the orders of higher ranked individuals representing these countries (Brum, M., n.d.).

III. GENERAL ACTIONS Leopold II’s reign over the Congo Free State eventually developed infamy because of the increasing amount of reports about mistreatment towards indigenous people. ’s , “originally published in 1899 as a three-part series in Blackwood’s Magazine based on a brief experience as a steamer captain on the Congo 12 years before” , encouraged international action against Leopold II’s actions (The , n.d.). After various complaints from the general public, the British launched an official investigation. The then British Consul at (at the mouth of the Congo River), , was sent to investigate the Congo Free State. In 1900, he reported back to the Foreign Office writing “The root of the evil lies in the fact that the government of the Congo is above all a commercial trust, that everything else is orientated towards commercial gain…” (The Belgian Congo, n.d.). The Congo Reform Association (CRA) was created in 1904 as an aftermath of the Casement Report, named after the detailed report written by Roger Casement of the atrocities happening in the Congo Free State. The Congo Reform movement’s members included “Sir , , Joseph Conrad, Booker T. Washington, and ” (The Belgian Congo, n.d.). Leopold offered to improve his administration, but it was decided to end his rule by international forces. No nation was willing to accept the responsibility of rebuilding the Congo Free State and was debated over two years. Belgium eventually yielded to international pressure and took over its administration on November 15, 1908. The Congo Free State became the Belgian Congo and Leopold II was successfully removed from power, yet this was no major loss for him or the companies in the Congo. Leopold II had all evidence against him of his actions in the Congo Free State destroyed, but he lost all absolute power there. However, the Congolese population “still had a Belgian colonial regime, which had become heavily paternalistic, with church, state, and private companies instructed to oversee the welfare of the inhabitants” (The Belgian Congo, n.d.).

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IV. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS A. Create an organization, using World Bank funds, to serve as a safe place to send anonymous complaints against harm and violent crimes caused since the first arrival of countries to the Congo Free State. a. Apart from pursuing new criminals since the beginning of this crimes, every confirmed crime with perpetrator will be processed in either national criminal courts of Congo Free State and European countries or in the International Criminal Court, depending on the gravity of the crimes i. The decision of the setting of the court will be taken by the organization with the agreement of the Congo Free State and the country of origin of the alleged criminal. B. Create worldwide awareness about the ongoing situation in the Congo Free State a. Work together to have a global voice against King Leopold II and indulge the Belgian Colony to stop the atrocities. i. Establish an alliance between the Congo Free State and Belgium ii. In order to ensure the alliance is fair, set consequences for all the crimes that are going on and apply proper punishment according to the law. The new alliance would be called Belgian Congo until the evacuate Congolese land completely unless it is by fair and legal terms (Atrocities in the…, June 17, 2020) 1. Suppressing forced labor and applying equal traits to any person no matter their citizenship, every worker should receive same traits and opportunity 2. Establish a tax for international citizens working in Congolese land and with those taxes collected; pay compensations for European companies having Congo citizens under their ranks of employment under fair and humane situations D. Dissolve the Belgian Colony: since it was set by using force and violence, including avoiding proper procedures and laws required in the Congolese land.

5 a. If the Belgian Colony wishes to continue functioning within Congo territory, an agreement between the Congo Free State and Belgium must be accorded before doing such. b. In the case that Congo does not wish to allow the Belgian Colony to continue, the establishment must be removed and taken back to Europe because it was set without requesting permission and by performing .

V. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brum, M. (n.d.) How Belgium cut off hands and arms, and killed over 15 million in Africa. In Gazeta Do Povo. Retrieved from https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/wiseup-news/how- belgium-cut-off-hands-and-arms-and-killed-over-15-million-in-africa/

Congo Free State. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/place/Congo-Free-State

Heath, E. (2010). Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. In Oxford University. Retrieved from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195337709.001.0001/acref- 9780195337709-e-0467

McKenna, A. (n.d.) Belgian Congo. In Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgian-Congo

6 Natural Resources in Africa. (n.d.) In Mining Africa. Retrieved from https://www.miningafrica.net/natural-resources-in-africa/

Pimentel, E. (2019). Civilization and the Congo Free State. In Story Maps. Retrieved from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/603cc07cb26242839e412beef41d199d

Sustainable Development Goal 16. (n.d.). In Sustainable Development. Retrieved from: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16

Stanley, T. (Oct, 2012). Belgium’s Heart of Darkness. In History Today. Retrieved form: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/contrarian/belgiums-heart-darkness

The Belgian Congo. (n.d.). In Lumen. Retrieved from: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-worldhistory/chapter/the-belgian-congo/

Thompsell, A. (2018). Congo Free State Rubber Regime Atrocities. In ThoughtCo. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/congo-free-state-atrocities-rubber-regime- 43731

United Nations. (n.d.) International Criminal Court. Retrieved from https://www.icc-cpi.int

What is the Security Council? (n.d.). In United Nations. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/what-security-council

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