Central Africa Post WWII
Why Europeans were interested in C AfricaNatural ResourcesExploitationColonization
Henry Morton StanleyFamous explorer / journalistClaimed the Congo River
basin for King Leopold II of Belgium
In search of Dr. LivingstonResponsible for the deaths
of many Africans in the Congo
Dr. LivingstonMedical missionary and explorer of AfricaLondon Missionary Society First European to cross the interior of
AfricaLost contact with the outside world and was found by H. M. StanleyDied in Africa
C Africa Before, During and After WWII
C Africa Before, During and After WWIIAlmost all of Africa was under colonial rule
during WWIINot until after the war did independence
movements gain supportEuropean countries were left weak after
WWII However most countries were not given
support or prepared for self ruleAs a result may bloody conflicts erupted
C Africa Before, During and After WWIICountry Year of IndependenceCameroon 1960Democratic Republic of the Congo
1960
Central African Republic 1960The Congo 1960Gabon 1960Rwanda 1962Burundi 1962Zambia 1964Equatorial Guinea 1968Angola 1975
GabonBecame independent in
1960Omar Bongo 1935-2009
Second President of GabonWorld’s longest serving
non-monarch ruler
One of world’s wealthiest heads of state
Speculation of corruption from country’s oil money profits
Republic of the CongoGained independence in 1960
from BelgiumPatrice Lumumba
Independence leader and first elected Prime Minister
Only lasted 10 monthsCongo Crisis
Lumumba was ousted by a military coup, imprisoned and executed by firing squad
Coup was supported by the US government
ZiareSese Seko takes control of the
Congo with the support of the US
Wanted to purge country of colonial past
Created an authoritarian gov’tWas corruptOver thrown in the First
Congo War
Democratic Republic of the CongoRenamed again after the First Congo
WarLaurent Kabila was the first President
Promised reform but never happenedHe was assassinated by his body guards
Joseph KabilaSon of Laurent took over country after
his father’s deathThought to be inexperiencedRebuilt relations with the West and
made reformsEnded the Second Congo War
Other Issues in C. AfricaDeforestation
Commercial companies are cutting down the rainforests in C. Africa
Wildlife PoachingAnimals such as gorillas,
elephants, and rinos are killed and harvested for their value on the black market
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