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Opening meeting of the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference on 20 January 1960

The Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference, held in Brussels over two periods from January 20 to February 20 and April 26 to May 16, 1960, was a crucial gathering. It brought together representatives from Congo's political and traditional leadership as well as Belgian political and business figures. During the conference, important decisions were made about the future of the Belgian Congo and reforms to its institutions. One key outcome was the agreement on June 30, 1960, as the date for Congo's independence.

Background

Colonial Charter

The Colonial Charter of November 18, 1908, set the political framework for the colony, a structure that remained largely intact until 1959. However, over time, it became clear that these rules no longer adequately addressed the changing needs of the colony. This charter marked a significant shift in King Leopold II's approach to governance. While the king retained executive power, it was now shared with the governor-general. Legislative authority rested with the king, exercised through decrees, which required ministerial approval in line with the Belgian constitution. In the Congo, the governor-general held a pivotal role as the representative of executive power and head of the colonial administration. Despite lacking direct political authority or the ability to propose new policies, the governor-general wielded significant influence, especially during periods of instability in the homeland. With a nuanced understanding of colonial affairs, he could subtly shape policy decisions, albeit indirectly.

Post War Colony

After the Second World War, spurred by pressure from the United States and the newly formed United Nations, anti-colonial sentiment began to rise in Africa. The aim was self-determination and democratization in African colonies, marking the initial strides toward independence.

leading up to the conference

The idea for a round table conference was first formulated in 1959 by the Congolese Labour Party. It gathered support from the Bakongo Alliance (ABAKO) and the Belgian Socialist Party (PSB).

The idea of a bilateral conference aimed at organising the independence of the Belgian colony was in turn adopted by the Minister of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, August de Schryver, who was also the leader of the Christian Social Party, Belgium's largest political party at the time. Several factors contributed to this idea taking shape, including:

• Grassroots activism by various native political groups.
• The Léopoldville riots in January 1959.
• The general sentiment of the inevitable and irreversible process of the decolonization of Africa.
• Deteriorating local economy (the public debt of the colony rose from 4 to 46 billion Belgian franc between 1949 and 1960).

The creation of a large scale Belgian-Congolese dialogue was also compatible with a speech from Belgian King Baudouin broadcast on January 13, 1959. Where he expressed the desire to "lead the Congolese populations, without harmful procrastination, but also without thoughtless haste, toward independence, in prosperity, and in peace."

On January 3, 1960, the Belgian government announced it was convening a round table conference with the goal of helping the Congolese transition from colonial rule to independence.

First Conference

The Political Round Table Conference took place in the Royal Palace in Brussels from January 20 to February 20, 1960. This gathering brought together the Belgian government and around 45 Congolese delegates, accompanied by several advisors who were allowed to attend but not speak.

Second Conference

The Economic Round Table continued from April 26 to May 16. The Belgian delegation remained unchanged, except for a few representatives from the mining industry. It concluded with the adoption of 18 resolutions, addressing crucial points such as land and mineral ownership, the status of Belgian military bases, and the government budget for 1960.

Lumumba’s eligibility and arrival

Important information regarding the Congolese delegation is the fact that Patrice Emery Lumumba was part of the original delegation. He was in prison. It’s Joseph Kasa-Vubu who put pressure on the Belgian government and demanded the release of Lumumba from prison so that he can join the original delegation in Belgium. Kasa-Vubu was the only person who fought for the release of Lumumba. Hence, the say “Kasa-Vubu made Lumumba as one of the fathers of the Belgian Congo independence… through his released from prison and his subsequent participation in the Round Table” (Nzita Na Nzita). In short “Et Kasa-Vubu ressuscita l’homme politique Lumumba” (Nzita Na Nzita). This is one of the reason Lumumba backed Kasa-Vubu candidacy for the presidency even though Abako was third in the May election (1960). The adage is simple “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours in turn” which nowadays can be interpreted as a “win-win situation” for both of them Kasa-Vubu and Lumumba. In this respect, the Round Table organized a vote that consisted of fourteen questions. Question 9 dealt with Lumumba’s case since His criminal record was already tainted as he was already convicted by the colonial justice for embezzlement of public funds of the PTT (Telegraph and Telephone Post) of the city of Stanleyville. Question 9 was formulated as follows:” Is it necessary to provide for a softening to the exclusion provisions at eligibility (amendment written by ABAKO-PSA-MNC-PP so as to enable Lumumba's eligibility?” The result was as follows: Out of the 11 political groups, six political groups voted "yes". They included Cartel (Abako; M. N.C.-Kalonji; P.S.A.; Parti du Peuple; F.G.C.et Abazi), Cerea, M. N.C.-Lumumba, Assoreco, Cartel Katangais (Balubakat-Fedeko-Atcar) et Union Congolaise. Four political groups voted against the motion "no". They were P.N.P., Conakat, Alliance Rurale Progressiste (Kivu), and Délégation des chefs coutumiers. One political group, Union Congolaise, abstained.

Prelude

On the eve of the conference the Congolese delegations held a series of meetings. Concern was expressed by Congolese students in Brussels that disunity in the Congo would prevent the delegates from taking advantage of Belgium's tenuous position. As a result, almost all of the delegations resolved to form a "Common Front" (Front Commun) to present their demands at the conference. That evening the Common Front released its first statement. It was demanded that the negotiations be more than consultative; all decisions reached should be made binding on the Belgian government. It also required that the Congo should immediately be granted independence. De Schryver and the Belgian delegation were shocked by the joint statement, having underestimated the full extent of Congolese discontent and their willingness to cooperate across party lines.

Results

At the end of the conference, the following notable resolutions were adopted:

• The declaration of independence of the Congo on June 30, 1960.
• The principles of the Congolese constitution, voted by the Belgian Parliament in May 1960.
• The structural organisation of the state and the separation of powers.

References

• The Belgo-Congolese Round Table: The historic days of February 1960. Brussels: C. Van Cortenbergh. 1960. OCLC 20742268.
• Hoskyns, Catherine (1965). The Congo Since Independence: January 1960 – December 1961. London: Oxford University Press.
• Makombo, Mutamba (1998). Du Congo belge au Congo indépendant, 1940-1960: émergence des "évolués" et genèse du nationalisme (in French). Publications de l'Institut de formation et d'études politiques.
• Institute, Egmont (1960). RÉSOLUTIONS DE LA CONFÉRENCE DE LA TABLE RONDE ÉCONOMIQUE LE 16 MAI 1960 (in French). Chronique de Politique Étrangère. JSTOR 44826456.