What was the Congo Crisis? | Why Katanga's attempted secession is still so important
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- In 1960, the province of Katanga unsuccessfully tried to break away from the newly independent Republic of the Congo. (Now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.) In this video, I explore why its effort to secede failed and why the consequences of this are still felt by independence movements around the world to this very day.
Welcome to Independent Thinking. A channel dedicated to international relations, independence disputes, secession and the origins of countries.
The Congo Crisis (1960-63) has been largely forgotten. And yet it was profoundly important in terms of shaping modern attitudes towards secession. Katanga's attempt to break away from the Republic of the Congo effectively marked the moment when the international community took a firm stance against unilateral attempts to declare independence. However, as is shown, this was only possible because of a very unusual convergence of interests between the two Cold War Super Powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. More to the point, the Congo Crisis galvanised opinion amongst the world's newly independent post-colonial countries. As a result, the international community's strong aversion to secession in the modern era became cemented at this point.
On a separate note, the Congo Crisis also had a profound affect of the United Nations. It represented a rare example of when a UN peacekeeping mission (ONUC) became directly involved in fighting as a partisan actor. Some of the events covered in this video were dramatised in the 2016 Netflix film, 'Siege of Jadotville', which looks at how a small unit of the Irish Army became under heavy attack during the Congo Crisis and Katanga's secession.
I am also extremely grateful to my friend and colleague Mikulas Fabry. This video is based on a section of a book we are currently completing. (Link below.)
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The Congo Crisis, from how you explained it, sounded like one of the most significant events in the 20th century and not a lot of people seem to talk about it.
Thanks so much. I’m so glad the video got that across. Yes, it was far more important than many people realise. And it is easy to forget that it also led to the death of UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold - a huge development at the time. It really does deserve to be better known than it is.
It was certainly was one of the most significant periods of the cold war, from liberation, to secession, to forced reintegration, to the simba rebellion, and totalitarian control by Mobutu, it was a crazy time
I have my civil services exams to give soon and this is considered one of the most important topics under World History, the Congo Crisis.
I am a Congolese from Katanga region,
Thank you for the video and the explanation.
Unfortunately the KATANGA state didn’t last longer only 2 years and 6 months,
It was the 10 July if I’m not wrong that the KATANGA state was declared by Moise TSHOMBE, everything was ready a constitution, currency and a national anthem…it was a federal state, Haut-Katanga, haut-lomami, Tanganyika and Lualaba, with the capital Elisabethville (Lubumbashi),
Economically the state was supported by union minière du haut Katanga a company(today GECAMINE) the biggest mining company in Congo, which extract especially cobalt and copper,
According to what my grandparents told me it’s was really a great time and people were really happy by that time…
But the Katanga state didn’t have the support of the UN,
Even today we see Congo as a failed state…99% will be in favor of a secession…
Thank you so much. It was such an important case in international relations and yet so little know today. Fascinating to hear that support for independence continues to this day. I should really look into it.
Hi mr James, you should definitely look into it because, as far as am concerned like a katangese, moise tshombe had released a speech to us Congress, telling them ,no matter how the destroy the katanga, but what they can't destroy is the our free will to be independent
Exactly, I am katangese, since my childhood I have dreamt of an independent katanga and still have hope for that.
Thank you for putting your experience, and those of your grandparents' here. I am currently working on a journal based on the Katanga secession, Biafra secession & the Congo crisis . I also did a project on the Congo crisis and Nigeria in the UN.
fled likasi , lost all property ....
So, that's the moment when UN stopped caring about self self-determination?
Thanks. Yes. As I tried to show, this was a fundamental turning point in the international community’s practical response to self-determination movements outside the colonial context.
Lumumba was never ‘pro-Soviet’. He turned to Russia after his requests were rejected by Washington.
As a Congolese with knowledge and concern, Congo was a country that was hold together by the Belgians and since Lumumba's hostile actions drove them away, Katanga's leaders didn't felt accommodated or fitted in that crazy spectacle that was going in Leopoldville sought remedy in that secession and that means taking control of the land of their ancestors of which they had the right. Now i think if they were guven that chance to stay and live with the Belgians, learn from them and prosper with them, katanga would have been one of the most prosperous country in Africa, so that was unfair to them and as a result they are as miserable as every Congolese regardless of their naturel resources, and what was left was more than enough coz Congo is rich in every corner. My province of South Kivu is very rich in Gold and Coltan.
Then why did the Soviets name a University after him? Hmmm..... lol
@@MississippiHomesteadJourney Because they wanted to.
@@Lettersfromhome18 Because he was a Commie.
It is a great summary of the conflict. Lumuba wasn’t pro Soviet though; he just wanted a meaningful independence from the most brutal Belgian colonialists and their western allies. The US and the British along with the Belgian colonists worked from day one to undermine his government and finally to depose and kill him. He turned to the Soviets only after the US rejected his plea for help against the greedy and brutal Belgian colonialists for sending their barbaric army to Congo to continue their exploitation of the country even after independence.
Apparently President Kennedy was a supporter of Patrice Lumumba and was shocked by his death and suspected CIA involvement. As events unfolded it is clear that President Kennedy and the CIA did not have a good relationship!
As a Katangese, we’ve never given up on statehood and self-determination. Our future was compromised by the United Nations which forced us back into an artificial state and a continuation of the colonial enterprise which commenced under King Leopold II.
As a 17 year old American i've do a good amount of research on Katanga and I believe that Katanga under Moise Tshombe would have been one of the best countries if not the best country in Africa. The mineral richest and the pro-free trade would have made Katanga a true paradise.
The UN should be held accountable for the death of our relatives, and also for the current instability of our beloved land, Katanga.
May peace and freedom be granted to your peoples my good sir
It's a pipe dream to think that Shaba would be rich without Zaïre
Shaba will just exploited by the West instead of a dictator
@@hanbyeol12,any knowledge about Congolese geography and social life?
This was explained so well. Thank you!!! Better than any other video I've watched
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Do let me know if there are any others topics that you would like to see me cover.
Katangese girl here🤚 we will give anything to be independent once again. 🤗
Thanks for watching. Although the Congo Crisis has now been largely forgotten, it has had a huge impact on how the international community responds to secession. Understanding what happened with Katanga's secession helps to explain why so many groups and territories seeking independence face such an uphill task.
On a separate note, it is really worth watching 'The Siege of Jadotville'. It is a rare example of a film about the Congo Crisis: www.netflix.com/gb/title/80041653
I just finished watching this movie about an hour ago.. I knew nothing of the subject matter before then. After watching the movie I began searching out more information a out this event.
Great video and an excellent explanation of a mostly forgotten conflict. Decision Games published a small solitaire game titled Congo Merc which takes place during the conflict. Due to its nature as a small game it doesn’t really delve too deep but it’s a rare game regarding the topic.
UN succefully ensuring that katanga would become a basket case.
UN is a joke.
Just the UN doing what the UN does.
So in a way, the international community under the auspices of the UN supported Dem. Congo (Leopoldville, now Kinshasa) as the successor to the Belgian Congo, which itself was a colonial amalgamation of ethnolinguistic groups. With such an approach, the precedent set forth by the UN in some way legitimizes the century-old and, in some cases, arbitrary construction of colonial entities. Has there been a concerted effort by the UN to propose multiple new independent entities from a single colonial entity based more upon existing ethnolinguistic/cultural similarities or precolonial designations?
Thanks, David. That’s spot on. Yes, the colonial boundaries were accepted as the boundaries of the new states. Even though they were awkward, it was understood as better than trying to redraw them to better got ethnic groups; not least of all because those different ethnic groups did not live in nice neat and discrete areas. Any attempt to redraw the boundaries would have opened up new conflicts - and would do today. It was just seen as better to leave the boundaries. (This was always the problem with Wilsonian self-determination. A nice idea in theory, but almost impossible to put into practice.) In fact, the video I had planned for this week was going to address just this very issue. I pushed it back a week to look at the events in the Caucasus, but I hope to publish it next week.
Another thing you could have mentioned was that Lumumba was actually taken to Katanga to be assassinated.
Really good video, studying the secession of Katanga in school and this is the first video I've found that has explained it so clearly and the effects it had internationally.
Thanks so much for the kind comment. It is really appreciated! What an interesting subject to be studying! Not often I hear about people studying it. Needless to say, please do pass it on to any of your friends and classmates who might be interested. And do perhaps take a look as some of the other videos on the channel. Lots of other background material. (The video on self-determination could be very helpful too!) Thanks again.
You basically gave me the answers to this one slide presentation I have to make for world history. Thank you!!!
Glad it helped! :-)
I just loved it...the way it is explained and carried or linked to other important hindsides and issues...great work
Thank you so much for the really nice comment! I am so glad you found it really useful. I do hope you’ll watch some more and also put the word around. By the way, if you have any topics you would like to see me cover, just let me know. I really appreciate and all suggestions. In the meantime, many thanks again!
This explanation is well understood, thank you James 🙏
Thanks a lot. As it happens, I am planning to cover another very important case from Africa that builds on the lessons from Congo in this Friday’s video: the Biafran War in Nigeria.
Excellent, this video has helped me with my research for "What if Biafra Became Independent?" where I use the example of Katanga to explain why the international community had a precedent for how they dealt with secessionist movements.
Great really glad it helped. Have you also seen my two videos on Biafra?
The UN presidents plane was accidently shot down. It's amazing but true.... What the UN did to Katanga was criminal.
The Katanga situation is exactly like the Biafran secession from Nigeria. I think the colonial powers are aware that they would loose their influences once a domino of secession and breakups spreads all over Africa and this means loosing free resources that drive their cooperations and multinational companies.
Thanks. I have actually made a video on Biafra. You are absolutely right. Katanga and Biafra in fact played an absolutely crucial role in defining how we understand self-determination and territorial integrity in modern international relations. I actually explain this in my most recent book: global.oup.com/ukhe/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049?cc=us&lang=en
Very straight forward and well reasoned presentation - thanks.
thank you for this video you really helped me with my history class presentation!
Really glad it helped!
Oh, and do pass it on to others in the class who might be interested. Thanks. 🙂
So that's why we can't recognize Somaliland
Yes, in a very general sense. The Congo Crisis was when international attitudes were put to the test, and this has had effects on all secessionist disputes since then, including Somaliland. You might also want to take a look at my video on self-determination: ruclips.net/video/vkhWoFirV7A/видео.html Also, if you’re interested in Somaliland, put on your notifications. I’ve got a video on the subject coming soon!
@@JamesKerLindsay Ok, thank you.
Katanga got screwed over and unspeakable war crimes were committed against it. This revisionist history video doesn't even begin to touch on it.
Great video, but i would suggest changing the channel name to Independent Thinking since that is what you call it at the start, would also make it look more professional, also do you plan a video on the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon?
Thanks so much for feedback and the really helpful suggestion. I really appreciate that you took the time to comment. I have actually given a lot of thought to this very point and I'm really glad you picked up on it. It is a difficult balance. Although I am focusing on independence, I am also doing so as someone who has worked extensively on the topic in a professional capacity. In many ways, this is the root of my authority when I speak. I have written a lot on the subject and people can readily verify this. There are many channels offering educational content with no indication of the expertise of the person presenting the information. This make sit hard to verify if they should be taken seriously. I try to do more than this. I don't just want to present bits of information. I want to explain how situations fit into a bigger picture. This really means giving people a reason to trust what I am saying. Also, I know that there is an increasing trend for people to use their own name and across various social media platforms. Using my name here also works well with my Twitter account. By the way, the best example of this twinned approach is someone called Anton Petrov, who runs a brilliant channel called 'Wat da Math'. He brands it under his own name, but has a channel ID. (If you are interested in space at all, it is genuinely amazing.)
And thanks so much for the great suggestion about the Anglophones in Cameroon. This is an excellent topic. It's an issue that has received far too little attention. I have put it down on my list. In the meantime, I do hope you'll come by to watch other videos and continue to provide feedback and suggestions. It really helps a lot.
Very interesting. Have you thought about a video on the Rwandan conflict, its present situation and its future ? It might have to then spill over to the Congo wars. Imo the Rwandan situation is one that is not yet...solved ?
Go Katanga!
I disagree that Lumumba was pro Soviet. That was an excuse used to justify his assassination. I think he was largely uninformed about what it meant to threaten to ask aid from the Soviet Union. That is to say, I don't think he would have done so if he fully understood what he was doing. He was a man desperate to better his country, but he was unfortunately ill prepared and naive.
He was a narcissist that tried to brutally suppress the Katangese independence movement.
And he was executed by Katanga for that, not because he was allied with the Soviets.
Great work thanks
Biira Tracy Thanks a lot for the very kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Do let me know if there are any other topics you would like to see me cover.
thank u!
Thank you James great expectations of Katanga country. James wish way Katanga can come independently?
Katangese.
Don't ever and ever hide the truth here we are now..
Let's just watch ⌚🤔 💥
Congo crisis is good example for Western hypocrisy .
Excellent video. Just want to point out that Dag Hammarsjoeld died in a plane crash in Zambia, not in Congo.
Great video.
Thank you very much.
Good well done thanks
All sir can you please share all the information that you gathered for the video. I have a MUN to give, and it would be quite helpful.
#FreeKatanga
Patagonia. Argentina or Chile?
The UN(employing mercenaries from member socialist states) violated it's charter, proclamations, and promises to Katanga. The UN was the aggressor in every major action. It's war crimes were rampant. It's goal was achieved: a communist congo.
Rhodesia and South Africa have fallen now as well
Iike the discussion and thank for that but u are so fast coz some of us we are used of the anxiety
If katanga had been given a chance to query on with the Belgians, live with them, prosper with them i must assure everyone that it could have been one of the most prosperous country in Africa. If they felt that amid chaos and atrocities that were unfolding the solution was to take their destiny in their hand, why not grant them that wish? That's the land of their ancestors. Now they are as miserable as every Congolese regardless of their naturel resources. And what was left is not meagre to be honnest as Congo is rich in every corner. Honnestly speaking
Sir what ws the role of Japan in Congo Crisis on 1960, if any ?
I have to admit that I don’t know. I suspect that you would really need to find a specialist historian for that.
@@JamesKerLindsay ok sir thank you
It seems this episode is key in the freezing the lines on the post colonial maps of new states which were often not nation states, and yet based on the nation states of Europe.
It might seem like this is a way of avoiding chaotic instability, but perhaps you could look at it another way.
Unfinished business instead leads to servere internal instability and corruption in these post colonial states, which in fact *never* become stable with the passage of time.
In my opinion , many conflicts during the last 60 years could have been avoided if there was a agreement to redraw the borders and create nation states during the independence .
I say that because the process would have been very difficult after the independence , having very corrupted leaders in power , it would have been nearly impossible to make them agree to lose some lands , power and resources for the good of the people and the colonial powers being in a position where they would have nothing to lose , Making the process far more inconvenient .
But I know that such a thing would not have been really feasible due to the Cold War and the western block probably wanting to limit the number of country to be able to control them and prevent them from having a "Revolution" and fall to the Soviet Union .
The Independence of the congo was also so disorganized that Katanga wasn't the only region to declare secession , a province just next to it called "Kasai" also declared its independence at about the same time .
@@madmouse4400 good answer you got there…. I would like to add that the UN as a organization has neglected tons of independence movements that are the most deserving to be recognized. Kurdistan being the more recent one. One can hope the next generation gets to right the wrong by the colonial borders created by the foreigners may be shattered.
@@madmouse4400 the Soviet block was pretty much anti self-determination too. They where very oppressive to the territories they controlled.
Also the International community's commitment to national territorial integrity seems to be highly selective, {they called No such punches when it came to the USSR or Yugoslavia, yeah they're still trying to force Somaliland into a union with a basically defunct Somalia, {defunct in the sense that it has no functioning national military or state bureaucracy\administration}. But it is an interesting double standard between some states and others. {Basically the West opposes secession in regard to African and Asian Nations and states that are part of the western block itself {think Catalonia with Spain}, and supports it with regard to enemy States {USSR}, for states that are considers ideologically defunct {Yugoslavia}
One may hope there will be a block that will punish the countries that maintained messed up borders and finally correct them.
The UN showed it can’t do it, time will tell do we need another global catastrophe for this to be realized? Who knows
Dag Hammerskjold died in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) not Congo
@Ingungumbane you're right, at the time the region was called Rhodesia, I didn't know that it had been split into multiple countries
@Ingungumbane yeah, I looked it up after reading your first comment
Dags plane came down between Ndola and Kitwe in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) not Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Now after years of noting UN"s actions it appears that we have all been hoodwinked into their bullshine story of peacekeeping . Realising that Tshombe had Mercenaries from many nations believing they were fighting against Communism and that now seems to be surfacing as UN does seem to be more on the side of the Commy world. and mercenaries rescued many people like missionaries etc which the UN seemed unable to do and in fact were the security force of the Cabal !!! The present day committee
The more you know, the more you see how people use power for their own ends.
The UN may have all sorts of ideals that it purports to hold...but the strength of those commitments is really only as strong as the strength of the powerful people within it.
Sadly, it's history is rife with examples where the UN abandoned it's principles in the cause of advancing some state or personal goal of abuse or oppression. Such is the way of governing bodies everywhere...they reflect the people within them.
La RDCONGO reste induvisible pardon( les distraction nde toboyi
vous les kinois ne parlez pas au nom des katangais
UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld died in highly suspicious circumstaces on Sept. 18, 1961 when his plane crashed "en route to negotiate a cease-fire between [the] United Nations Operation in the Congo forces and Katangese troops under Moise Tshombe. His Douglas DC-6 airliner SE-BDY crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia)."
Dag Hammarskjöld maintained that the Katangese secession was an internal political and military matter for the Congo and UN intervention against Katanga would be a breach of the United Nations Charter which forbade forces under UN Command to intervene in any internal political or military conflict on either side of the dispute or on either side of the belligerents involved.
Dag Hammarskjöld's Burmese UN Secretary-General successor U Thant had no such legalistic qualms about using UN-commanded forces against the Katangese secessionists.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Ndola_Transair_Sweden_DC-6_crash
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Grandslam