Democratic Republic of the Congo
Belgium’s King Philippe Regrets Colonial Past In DR Congo But Does Not Apologize
Belgium’s King Philippe on Wednesday expressed his deepest regrets for the acts of violence, exploitation, and racism carried out on the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the colonial rule of his ancestors, reported Reuters. The king, however, stopped short of formally apologizing for the acts.
King Philippe, who is on a week-long visit to DR Congo at the invitation of President Félix Tshisekedi, told the DRC’s parliament on Wednesday that Belgian colonial rule was unjustifiable and racist.
“This regime was one of the unequal relations, unjustifiable in itself, marked by paternalism, discrimination, and racism,” he said.
“It led to violent acts and humiliations. On the occasion of my first trip to Congo, here, in front of the Congolese people and those who still suffer from it today, I wish to reaffirm my deepest regrets for these wounds of the past,” the 62-year-old Belgium’s king added.
Notably, Belgium’s colonial record in DR Congo was one of the bloodiest in Africa. It is estimated that killings, famine, and disease killed up to 10 million Congolese during the first 23 years of Belgium’s rule from 1885 to 1960 when King Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State as a personal fiefdom.
The king’s statement comes two years after he made similar comments on the 60th anniversary of Congo’s independence when he condemned “acts of violence and cruelty” during Belgian colonial rule.
Belgium’s King Philippe arrived in DR Congo on Tuesday along with his wife, Queen Mathilde, and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo for a week-long visit.
Philippe also handed over a traditional mask of the Suku people to Congo’s national museum as an indefinite loan. The mask has been held for decades by Belgium’s Royal Museum for Central Africa.
During a brief news conference earlier on Wednesday with the Belgium prime minister, Tshisekedi said that he was focused on boosting cooperation with Belgium to attract investment and improve health care and education in Congo.
