Literature on the History of Central Africa |
Rep. Congo | Angola |
|
Prehistory (-1885) . Except for a small coastal stretch (historically part of the Kingdom of Kongo, and by 1880 claimed by Portugal as part of Angola), most of what was to become the Congo Free State was largely unknown to Europeans; in part because the Livingstone Falls made navigation upriver beyond Matadi impossible. The territory was inhabited by an ethnically heterogene population, and divided into numerous polities, among which the Luba-Lunda Kingdom (Katanga) was one of the most prominent. In the decade prior to the establishment of the Congo Free State, Arab slave trade had an erosive impact on traditional polities; Msiri's Kingdom is an example for a polity established by a slave trader (Katanga). Congo Free State (1885-1908) . Explorer Henry Morton Stanley, after having traversed the Congo Basin, together with King Leopold II of Belgium, established the International African Association, which established a government over the Congo Basin and in 1885 transmutated into the Congo Free State, with King Leopold II as sovereign and Stanley as its first governor. Capital Boma. A railway line was constructed around the Victoria Falls; a fleet of steamers were put on the Congo River and its tributaries. At first, ivory accounted for most of the Free State's revenue; later, rubber was to take its place. The Congo Free State was not a colony; it had to make ends meet without a financial subsidy from the motherland. The native population was coerced to regularly deliver a 'tax' in form of a quantity of rubber. State officials were encouraged to collect as much rubber as possible, and they were given free hand in their treatment of the native population. Reports about atrocities against the native Congolese reached Europe, and a campaign against the Congo Free State (1903-1908) was launched in Europe by E.D. Morel. Commissions sent into the Congo Free State confirmed the abuses; in 1908 Belgium took over the Congo Free State, which now became the Belgian Congo (1908-1960). Note: while numerous atrocities have been reported from the Congo Free State, the application of the term "genocide" is disputed. In a number of sources, statistical figures (a population of 20 million prior to the establishment of the Congo Free State, a population of 10 million at the time of the Belgian takeover) are used to support the usage to terms such as genocide or holocaust. In the 19th century no administration in Africa conducted a population census; population figures given in historical sources from that time are (very rough, usually exaggerated) estimates. Jan Lahmeyer, for 1890, estimates the territory of the Congo Free State to have had a population of 3.3 million (Lahmeyer, Population Statistics, D.R. Congo). Belgian Congo (1908-1960) . Reports about atrocities ceased following the takeover. Railroads connecting Katanga with coastal ports were completed, and copper ore/copper became the country's leading export product. During World War II (when Belgium itself was occupied by the Germans) the Belgian Congo sided with the Allies and supplied valuable raw material, a.o. the uranium for the Manhattan Project. Independence (1960-) . In 1960 the Belgian Congo was released into independence. New Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba wanted to break the hold Belgian banks and companies had on the Katanga mines and contemplated a Soviet alliance. Belgium and the U.S. supported his opponents; Lumumba was dismissed, arrested, executed. The new strongman was Mobutu Sese Seko. President since 1965, he renamed the country Zaire in 1971. He ruled until 1997 and is regarded one of the worst kleptocrats in history. He was toppled in the course of a civil war in 1997. Since, the country has seen further internal military conflicts, which at times see ethnic groups facing each other, but which are often fought over control of productive mining areas. |
E x t e r n a l . F i l e s |
Country Profiles | Links, Portals | Organizations | Accounts of History | Politics | Military History | Economic History |
Social History | Ethnography | History of Religion | Regional History | Local History | Institutions | Culture |
Biography | Others |
D o c u m e n t s |
Historical Data | Documents | Institutions | National Symbols |
P r i n t e d . R e f e r e n c e |
Bibliographies | Online Libraries | Online Journals | General Accounts | Specific Topics | Historical Dictionaries | Others |
DIRECTORY OF INTERNET SOURCES . . . EXTERNAL FILES |
Country Profiles | Current |
CIA World Factbook : D.R. Congo;
BBC Country Profile : D.R. Congo;
World Reference Desk : Congo (Zaire) Country Profile : D.R. Congo, from ISS Entry DRC, from EISA Web Encyclopedia Entry Congo, Democratic Republic of the (DROC), from Encyclopedia of Nations Art and Life in Africa : D.R.Congo DR Congo Profile, from International Crisis Group UK Border Agency, Country of Origin Report : D.R. Congo, leads to report 2012 |
Historical |
A.M. Gochet, Le Congo belge illustre 1888, IA F. Desour, Le Congo belge 1890, IA E.E.F. Descamps, New Africa; an essay on government civilization in new countries, and on the foundation, organization and administration of the Congo Free State 1903, IA B. Moncheur, Conditions in the Congo Free State 1904, IA P.S. Reinsch, Real Conditions in the Congo Free State, North American Review 178 1904 F. Cattier, Etude sur la situation de l'Etat independant du Congo 1906, IA F. Goffart, Le Congo 1908, IA Notre colonie : le Congo belge, 1909, IA F. Starr, The Congo Free State and Congo Belge, The Journal of Race Development 1 1911 pp.383-399 G. Morissens, L'oeuvre civilisatrice au Congo belge 1912, IA M. Calmeyn, Au Congo belge : chasses a l'elephant, les indigenes, l'administration 1912, IA J. Roland et E. Duchesne, Cours Complet de Geographie : Le Congo Belge (complete course of geography : the Belgian Congo), Namur : Wesmael-Charlier 1914; in English translation posted at this site. Naval Intelligence Division (UK), A manual of Belgian Congo 1920, IA Belgiums Policy in the Belgian Congo 1956, IA Office de l'information et des relations publiques pour le Congo belge et le Ruanda-Urundi, Belgian Congo, vol.1 1959, vol.2 1960, IA Library of Congress, Country Studies : Zaire |
Links | General |
D.R. Congo (Zaire) Page, from African Studies
at UPenn; from Africa South of the Sahara at Stanford |
on History |
Virtual Library History : D.R. Congo |
Organizations |
Historical Dictionary |
Encyclopedie du Congo Belge, vol.1, n.d., Gallica |
Timelines |
Timeline, from BBC News;
from timelines.ws |
Accounts of History | Current |
History of D.R. Congo, from newafrica.com, 3 chapters N. Rolland, A Short History of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), n.d., IA |
Historical |
H.M. Stanley, The Congo and the Founding of Its Free State: A Story of Work and Exploration
vol.1 1885,
vol.2 1885, IA P. Blaise, Le Congo: histoire, description, moeurs et coutumes 1892, IA H.W. Wack, The story of the Congo Free State 1905, IA H.H. Johnston, George Grenfell and the Congo, vol.1, 1910, vol.2, 1910, IA A.J. Wauters, Histoire politique du Congo Belge 1911, IA |
From Lumumba to Mobutu, 1960-1965 |
Article : Congo Crisis, from Wikipedia C. van de Velde, Du Congo belge a la Republique du Congo. 1955-1965 n.d. M.S. Rognoni, Dag Hammarskjöld and the Congo Crisis, 1960-61, ECAS 2011 L. Szabo, The Belgian Disengagement and the UN's Activity in the Congo in the Eyes of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affaires in 1960, ECAS 2011 |
Era Mobutu, 1965-1997 |
Article : Mobutisme, from Wikipedia French edition M.J. Kisui, le systeme criminel mobutiste, dossier Article : Zaire, from Wikipedia W. Reno, Sovereignty and Personal Rule in Zaire, African Studies Quarterly vol.1 1997 F. Stellamans, Joseph Mobutu, sterke man of bloeddictator? Een analyse van de berichtgeving in de binnen- en buitenlandse pers over de opkomst van het Mobuturegime, thesis Leuven 2006 S. van Bever, Het beeld van Mobutu Sese Seko in de Belgische pers. De Standaard, Vooruit & De Morgen, La Libre Belgique, Le Peuple (1965-1997), thesis Gent 2005 |
Since 1997 |
Articles First Congo War 1996-1997,
Second Congo War 1998-2003,
Ituri Conflict 1999-2007,
Kivu Conflict 2004-,
Dongo Conflict 2004-,
M23 Rebellion 2012-, from Wikipedia Global Security, Military : Congo Civil War A. Mackie, The Utility of Darkness: Figments of a State called the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thesis Macalester 2013 A.Z. Trautman, From Zaire to the DRC: A Case Study of State Failure, thesis Univ. of South Florida 2013 C.K. Kabemba, Democratisation and the Political Economy of a Dysfunctional State: The Case of the Democratic Republic of Congo, thesis Univ. of Witwatersrand 2011 C. Schmidt, Into the Heart of Darkness: Cosmopolitanism vs. Realism and the Democratic Republic of Congo, thesis Ohio State 2010 C. Kelly, Belgian Intervention Policy in the DRC: Causes and Consequences of the Reorientation, 1999-2006 2008 |
Historiography |
Wikipedia Article : Congo Free State propaganda war S. Geenen, Herinneringen aan Kongo. De beeldvorming in de Belgische, Franstalige Kongoromans gepubliceerd na 1960, thesis Gent 2005 Ideology in the Schoolbooks in the Belgian Congo, by Honore Vinck, from ABBOT I. Goddeeris et al., Congomania in Academia. Recent Historical Research on the Belgian Colonial Past, 2011 |
Politics |
Political Resources on the Net : D.R. Congo For the Record : DR Congo, from UN Human Rights System C.F. Littell, The neutralization of states; a study in diplomatic history and international law, 1920, IA; pp.54-67 on the Congo Free State F. Cattier, Droit et adminstration de l'Etat independant du Congo 1898, IA B. van Maele, De buitenlandse betrekkingen van Belgisch Congo aan de vooravond van de Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1940) thesis Gent 1999 T. Ritchie, A Familiar Frontier: The Kennedy Administration in the Congo, thesis Brandeis 2012 J.W. Donaldson, Marking Territory. Demarkation of the DRC-Zambia Boundary from 1894 to the Present Day, thesis Durham 2010 E.M. Davis, The United States and the Congo, 1960-1965 : Containment, Minerals and Strategic Location, thesis Univ. of Kentucky 2013 G. Bechtolsheimer, Breakfast with Mobutu: Congo, the United States and the Cold War, 1964-1981, thesis LSE 2012 |
Ethnography |
Languages of the D.R. Congo (218), from Ethnologue World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples : DR Congo A.M. Gochet, Les Congolais : leurs moeurs et usages : histoire, geographie et ethnographie de l'etat indépendant du Congo 1890, IA F. Starr, Congo natives; an ethnographic album 1912, IA M. Baerts, Organisation politique civile et penale de la tribu des Mousseronghes 1890, IA The People on the Kongo, Science, 1886, IA Database for Indigenous Cultural Evolution (DICE), Bakongo, Kikongo, Lokele, Luba, Lunda I.M. de Rezende, Visuality and Colonialism in the Congo: From the "Arab War" to Patrice Lumumba, 1880s to 1961 2013 (on the Tetela, formerly known as Batetela) |
Religion |
Chronology of Catholic Dioceses : D.R. Congo, from Kirken i Norge D.R. Congo, from International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies - Cemetery Project Patron Saint Index : Belgian Congo C. van Straelen, Missions catholiques et protestantes au Congo 1898, Gallica Jewish Virtual Library, Democratic Republic of Congo N. Verhoeven, De Zusters van Liefde van Jezus en Maria in Kongo. een studie van hun ervaringen tijdens de woelige jaren van de onafhankelijkheid (1955-1965), thesis Gent 2003 K. Rountree, Catholic Missionaries in Africa, The White Fathers and the Belgian Congo 1950-1955, thesis Louisiana State Univ. 2009 J. Briffaerts, The Missionaries And The Belgian Congo: Preparation, Ideas And Conceptions Of The Missionaries, Rozenberg Quarterly July 2013 Congo Church Association, History of the Anglican Church in Congo |
History of Regions | Modern |
Provinces of the D.R. Congo, from www.statoids.com Zones of the D.T. Congo, from www.statoids.com J.M. Merklin, Countries and Territories of the 20th Century, 2009 : Republique democratique du Congo (Etat libre du Congo) 1968-07-08, Republique du Zaire 1978-07-08, 1988-07-08, Republique democratique du Congo 1998-07-08, 2008-07-08 Article : History of the Kasai Region, by Wikipedia J. Beck, Contested Land in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo 2012 |
Colonial Era |
J.M. Merklin, Countries and Territories of the 20th Century, 2009 :
1900-07-08,
1908-07-08,
Colonie du Congo Belge,
1918-07-08,
1928-07-08,
1938-07-08,
1948-07-08,
1958-07-08 Wikipedia Article Lado Enclave G. Gardet, Histoire du Katanga, 1913, IA N. Veerle, Conflict and subversion in the Central Congo between 1920 and 1940, Annales Aequatoria 24 2003 L. van der Straeten, Katanga in wereld-systeemperspectief , thesis Gent 2001 History of the Lado Enclave, in : South Sudan : A History of Political Domination - A Case of Self-Determination, by Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, UPenn; scroll down Katanga : Kongo's secessionist nightmare, from OTN Congo Glossary Zaire: IRIN Briefing Part V: Shaba, 3/19/97, from Integrated Regional Information Network (UN), on insurrection in Katanga 1960-1964, 1977/78, 1984-85 La Naissance du Katanga, history 1876-1906, in French |
Precolonial |
H.A.D. de Carvalho, A Lunda, ou os estados do Muatianvua, dominios da soberania de Portugal, comprovados pela antigaexpansao e influencia dos portuguezes, convençoes com as naçoes estrangeiras e estado livre do Congo sobre a divisao politica do continente africano; tratados, declaraçoes com os diversos pot entados dos estados indigenas, embaixadas que teem vindo a Loanda e ainda pela correspondencia official trocada entre o chefe da expediçao portugueza ao Muatianvua de 1884-1888 com as diversas auctoridades portuguezas e indigenas 1890, IA Resistance and Collaboration at the Beginning of the Colonization in Mbandaka (1883-1893), by Honore Vinck, in French (aequatoria.be) H.B. Mulinda, Aux origines du royaume de Ngoyo, Civilizations 41 1993 |
Local History |
Institutions |
A. van Crombrugghe, Aviation in the Belgian Congo 1922, IA Belgian Congo, DR Congo, Zaire, from Airline History L. Trouet, Le chemin de fer du Congo 1898, IA Railroads in the Congo Free State, Bulletin of the American Geographical Society 39 1907 Hans Meyer, Die Eisenbahnen im Tropischen Afrika (The Railroads in Tropical Africa), Leipzig : Duncker & Humblot 1902, in German, posted by DTBSWS, chapter Kongostaat, pp.48-64 |
Cultural History |
L. Kochnitzky, Negro art in Belgian Congo 1952, IA Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History : African Christianity in Kongo, Dona Beatriz : Kongo Prophet, Kongo Ivories, Kingdoms of the Savanna : The Kuba Kingdom, The Luba and Lunda Empires |
Biographies |
E. Janssen et al., Les belges au Congo; notices biographiques
vol.1 1908,
vol.2 1908,
vol.3 1908, IA |
Environmental History |
Afrotropic Ecoregion, from WWF |
Others |
Fluweb Historical Influenza Database, "Pandemic of Influenza 1918-1919",
S.P. James, The General Statistics of Influenza in Australasia and Parts of Africa and Asia, Belgian Congo p.377 |
DIRECTORY OF INTERNET SOURCES . . . EXTERNALLY POSTED DOCUMENTS |
Historical Data | Lists of Statesmen |
World Statesmen : D.R. Congo, by Ben Cahoon;
Rulers : Congo Kinshasa, by B. Schemmel |
Lists of Tribal Chieftains |
Chefs et Patriarches de Mbandaka, posted by Aequatoria.be, in French |
Lists of Ambassadors |
Chinese Ambassadors to D.R. Congo, from PRC MOFA List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to the D.R. Congo, Wikipedia Article : United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Wikipedia |
Lists of Consuls |
Political Graveyard : U.S. Consuls in Congo (Kinshasa) |
Statistical Data | Responsible Institution |
Belgian Delegation, The present state of development of statistics in the Belgian Congo Ruanda-Urundi, 1959, UNECA |
Population Figures |
Historical Population Statistics, D.R. Congo, from Population Statistics by Jan Lahmeyer World Life Expectancy : Health Profile D.R. Congo |
Election Results |
Congo Kinshasa, from Elections around the World Search IPU Parline for "Democratic Republic of the Congo" EISA : D.R. Congo Election Archive African Elections Database : Congo-Kinshasa |
Documents | Historical Newspapers | Hemerotheques |
Official Gazettes |
Republique Democratique du Congo, Journal Officiel de la RDC 2002- |
Specific Newspapers |
Congo : revue generale de la Colonie belge = Congo : Algemeen tiidschrift van de Belgische Kolonie
(no.1) 1920,
Jan. 1 1921,
Mar. 3 1921,
Apr. 4 1921,
Jan. 1 1922,
Feb. 2 1922,
Apr. 4 1922,
May 7 1922,
Jun. 1922, IA Ligue internationale [\"puis\" Ligue française et Ligue suisse] pour la defense des indigenes dans le bassin conventionnel du Congo. Bulletin trimestriel, 1908-1910, Gallica |
Collections of Articles |
History of the D.R. Congo, from World History Archives |
Yearbooks |
International; Congo / Zaire entries |
Statesman's Year-Book, Congo Free State
1886, pp.708-710, IA,
1887, pp.732-734, IA,
1888, pp.736-738, IA,
1889, pp.741-743, IA,
1890, pp.428-430, IA,
1891, pp.434-437, IA,
1892, pp.432-434, IA,
1894, pp.439-441, IA,
1895, pp.439-441, IA,
1896, pp.439-441, IA,
1898, pp.439-441, IA,
1899, pp.479-481, IA,
1903, pp.528-532, IA,
Belgian Congo
1913, pp.674-679, IA,
1919, pp.698-703, IA,
1921, pp.699-705, IA Katanga in 1920, from South and East African Year Book and Guide, 26th edition 1920 p.144 UN Yearbook . UN Yearbook Collection, 1946-2007 Questions Relating to the Situation in the Republic of Congo (Leopoldville), 1960, 1961 Questions Concerning the Situation in the Congo (Leopoldville), 1962 Africa, Zaire 1996, Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
Staatskalender |
Newsreels, Films |
Image Databanks |
License plates from D.R. Congo, from plaque.free.fr;
from License Plates of the World Airline Timetable Images : Congo DR CEGESOMA, Gros plan sur les images du Congo (photos 1920-1970s) |
Archival Deposits |
Kingdom of Belgium,
Africa Archive Musee Royale d'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren (B), Archives The Institute of the National Parks of Belgian Congo, Archives of the former National Parks of the Belgian Congo Centre Aequatoria, Archives LSE Archives, Collection E.D. Morel European Guide on Banking and Reverse Mortgage Loans, History of the company/bank and archive description for Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) N.V. An Inventory of the Conseil national de liberation (Congo) Commandement des forces armees populaires. Etat major general records, at Hoover Institution |
Constitutions, Laws |
Constitution de l'etat du Katanga, n.d. |
Treaties |
UK Treaties Online, search for Belgian Congo; Congo Environmental Treaties : D.R. Congo, from Pop Planet List of Ratifications of International Labour Conventions by Dem. Rep. Congo, from ILO, 37 docs. since 1960 Convention between Belgium and the Congo Free State (1890), The American Journal of International Law 3, 1909, IA Declaration of Neutrality of the Congo Free State (1885), The American Journal of International Law 3, 1909, IA A. de Busschere (ed.), Code de traites et arrangements internationaux inte?ressant la Belgique, complete? 1o. par les traite?s conclus par l'Etat inde?pendant du Congo, 2o. par divers actes internationaux fixant des regles de droit public international, 3o. par la legislation relative aux principales matieres faisant l'objet des traites et annote? d'observations pratiques vol.1, 1896, IA Treaty of Vivi, 1880, Treaty of Manyanga, 1882, Treaty of Leopoldville , 1883, Treaty with the King of Niadi, no date, List of Stations, Treaties, Districts Ceded, 1883, all posted at this site General Act of the Berlin Conference, 1885, the so-called 'Congo Act', posted at this site General Act of the Berlin Conference, 1885, from Australian Treaty Series Declaration of the General Act of the Brussels Conference, 1890, from Australian Treaty Series Convention revising the General Act of Berlin of 26 February 1885 and the General Act and Declaration of Brussels of 2 July 1890, St. Germain-en-Laye 1919, from Australian Treaty Series 1920 No.17 Treaty with Ngombi and Mafela, posted by J. O'Brien Independent State of the Congo, pp.1004-1012 in vol.6 of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America 1776-1949, 1971, GB |
Consular Reports |
To U.S. Congress : Report Relating to the occupation of the Congo country,
1885, IA Supplement to Commerce reports : daily consular and trade reports issued by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce : Belgian Kongo, Dec. 20 1915, Belgian Kongo, Katanga Sept. 21 1916, IA Despatches from United States Consuls in Boma 1888-1895, 1955, Digitized Books from the Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Foreign Relations of the United States 1851-1960, Univ. of Wisconsin Digital Collections Foreign Relations of the United States, Summaries 1958-1968, U.S. State Department, Electronic Research Collections; especially Foreign Relations, 1961-63, Vol. XX, Congo Crisis |
Historiography |
J. Conrad, Heart of Darkness 1899 E.D. Morel, The Congo Slave State, 1903, IA M. Twain, King Leopold's Soliloquy: A Defense of His Congo Rule 1905, IA A.C. Doyle, The Crime of the Congo 1909, IA E.D. Morel, Great Britain and the Congo; the pillage of the Congo basin 1909, IA E.D. Morel, Red rubber : the story of the rubber slave trade which flourished on the Congo for twenty years, 1890-1910 1919, IA W.T. Stead, Leopold - Emperor of the Congo, from American Monthly Review of Reviews, July 28th 1903, posted at boondocksnet Ought King Leopold be hanged ? 1905 interview with W.T. Stead, from boondocksnet E.D. Morel, L'etat actuel de la question Congolaise, 1910, posted by CoBelCo |
Document Collections |
Foreign Office (UK), Correspondence respecting the Independent state of the Congo
vol.1 1907, IA E.D. Morel (ed.), The Present state of the Congo question : official correspondence between the Foreign Office and the Congo Reform Association, 1912, IA Affaires du Congo et de l'Afrique occidentale 1884, Gallica, 1885, Gallica, Affaires du Congo, 1884-1887 1890, Gallica; 1884-1895 1895, Gallica, Afrique : arrangements, actes et conventions concernant le nord, l'ouest et le centre de l'Afrique : 1881-1898 1898, Gallica Leopold II et Beernaert : d'apres leur correspondance inedite de 1884 a 1894 vol.1 1920, vol.2 1920, IA U.S. Department of State, Affairs in the Kongo, 1909, IA Germany, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aktenstücke betreffend die Kongo-Frage 1885, IA Documents relatifs a la prefecture apostolique du Congo, 1881, Gallica Search IPU Parline for "Congo, Democratic Republic" Asser Institute, Documents Democratic Republic of Congo Security Council Report : UN Documents on the Great Lakes Region, UN Documents for LRA-Affected Areas, UN Documents for the Democratic Republic of Congo |
Individual Documents |
Congo Free State G.W. Williams, [Report upon the Congo-State and country] to the President of the Republic of the United States of America 1890, IA Federation Progressiste, La politique coloniale et le Congo devant le Parlement 1895, IA M. de Mandat-Grancey 1900 : Temoignages de la brutalite de la domination coloniale, from cliotexte, scroll down Temoignages recueillis a Boma et a Mopolenge, 1904, from CoBelCo Commission d'Enquete, 1904 : Proces Verbal, posted by CoBelCo Congo Reform Association, Evidence laid before the Congo Commission of Inquiry at Bwembu, Bolobo, Lulanga, Baringa, Bongandanga, Ikau, Bonginda, and Monsembe. Together with a summary of events (and documents connected therewith) on the A.B.I.R. concession since the Commission visited that territory 1905, IA The Congo; a report of the Commission of enquiry appointed by the Congo Free State government 1906, IA Abstract of the report of the Commission of enquiry into the administration of the Congo Free State 1906, IA Report of the British Consul, Roger Casement, on the Administration of the Congo Free State 1906, IA H.G. Guiness, Bokwala: the story of a Congo victim 1910, IA Belgian Congo Message by Mr. Renquin, Ministry of Colonies, to the Missionaries in the Congo, 1920, from Contre la censure, le clericalisme et les religions Radio Congo interview with King Baudouin, 1958, from RTBF, in French Radio programme on the Riots in Congo, Jan. 4th 1959, from RTBF, in French Office de l'information et des relations publiques pour le Congo belge et le Ruanda-Urundi, The political future of the Belgian Congo; the royal message and the government's declaration of January 13, 1959, IA L. Merchiers, A preliminary report on the atrocities committed by the Congolese army against the white population of the Republic of the Congo before the intervention of the Belgian forces 1960, IA La ceremonie officielle de declaration d'independance du Congo se deroule le jeudi 30 juin 1960, a 11 heures, au Palais de la Nation. Une journee marquee par les discours du Roi Baudouin, du President Kasavubu et l'intervention inattendue du Premier Ministre Lumumba... , from RTBF, Text of Radio Programme covering the Ceremony; in French Independence Margaret Park, Leopoldville 1960, personal account of the evacuation of whites Livre Blanc du Gouvernement katangais sur les evenements de septembre et decembre 1961. The Katangese Government's White paper on the events of September and December 1961. 1962, IA Presentation Speech of the Nobel Peace Prize for 1961, awarded to Dag Hammarskjoeld, by Gunnar Jahn, from Nobel e-Museum, detailed on the Congo situation U Thant : the Congo Problem, 1962, from Modern History Sourcebook E. van den Haag, The war in Katanga; the United Nations in the Congo, report of a mission 1962, IA White House Statement About a Meeting Between the President and President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, December 1, 1981, posted by Reagan Library, UTexas Remarks Following Discussions With President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, June 29, 1989 posted by Bush Library, TAMU Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on President Bush's Meeting With President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, June 29, 1989 posted by Bush Library, TAMU UN General Assembly Resolutions, 15th Session 1960-1961, No.1480 20 Sept. 1960, Admission of the Republic of Congo (Leopoldville) to the United Nations, No.1590 20 Dec. 1960, United Nations Operations in the Congo, No.1592 20 Dec. 1960, The Situation in the Republic of Congo, No.1595, 3 Apr. 1961, United Nations Operations in the Congo, Cost Estimates and Financing, No.1599 15 Apr. 1961, The Situation in the Republic of Congo, No.1600 , 15 Apr. 1961, The Situation in the Republic of Congo, No.1601, 15 Apr. 1961, The Situation in the Republic of Congo, No.1619 21 Apr. 1961, United Nations Operations in the Congo, 16th session 1961-1962 No.1633 30 October 1961, United Nations Operations in the Congo, Cost Estimates and Financing, No.1732, United Nations Operations in the Congo, Cost Estimates and Financing UN Security Council Resolutions 1964 res. 199, 1966 res. 226, 1967 res. 239, 241, 1996 res. 1078, 1080, 1997 res. 1097, 1999 res. 1234, 1258, 1273, 1279, 2000 res. 1291, 1304, 1316, 1323, 1332, 2001 res. 1341, 1355, 1376, 2002 res. 1399, 1417, 1445, 2003 res. 1457, 1468, 1484, 1489, 1493, 1499, 1501, 2004 res. 1522, 1533, 1552, 1555, 1565, 2005 res. 1592, 1596, 1616, 1621, 1628, 1635, 1649, 2006 res. 1653, 1654, 1669, 1671, 1693, 1698, 1711, 1736, 2007 res. 1742, 1751, 1756, 1768, 1771, 1794, 2008 res. 1797, 1799, 1804, 1807, 1843, 1856, 1857, 2009 res. 1896, 1906, 2010 res. 1925, 1952, 2011 res. 2021, 2012 res. 2053, 2076, 2078, 2013 res. 2098 |
Historical Maps | responsible institutions |
Centre de Recherche Geographique et de Cartographie (CERGEC), National Mapping Agencies in Africa |
collections |
Democratic Republic of Congo Maps, PCL, UTexas |
information |
Whole Country, Modern |
Wikipedia : D.R. Congo, Major Languages |
Whole Country, Contemporary |
Pre-Congo Free State
Map of 1890, from Encyclopaedia Britannica,
Am. ed. 1890, posted by Perry Castaneda Library, UTexas, features Lunda as yet unclaimed African territory Africa map of 1892 from Gardiner's Atlas of English History, 1892 shows Lunda split up betw. Portugal, Belgium, borders 'strange' R. Kiepert, Carte du bassin du Congo, 1885, 1886, features precolonial polities, Gallica Congo Free State Croquis de l'Afrique équatoriale, contenant les derniers renseignements recueillis par les agouts de l'Association internationale du Congo 1885, Gallica J. Lebegue, Carte de l'etat independant du Congo 1880 [?], 1894 Gallica H. Habenicht, Der Congo-Staat und das Freihandelsgebiet 1885, IA A.J. Wauters, Carte de l'Etat independant du Congo dressee d'après les derniers renseignements : avec un resume chronologique des principaux faits de l'histoire de l'oeuvre africaine, 1878 a 1887, 1887, Gallica Map : Carte de l'organisation administrative en 1888, from CoBelCo J. du Fief, Carte de l'Etat indépendant du Congo et de l'Afrique centrale 1890, 1892, Carte de l'Etat indépendant du Congo 1895, Gallica Das Gebiet der Internationalen Kongo-Gesellschaft, nach R. de Lannoy de Bissy, Chavanne u.A., Illinois University Library Wikimedia : Map of the Congo Free State by E. D. Morel, 1904; features concession territories Wikimedia : Congo Free State, Revenue Divisions, 1906 Belgian Congo Belgian Congo, Provinces, posted by S. Bradley Maps : The Belgian Congo 1914, Physical and Administrative. Administrative & Political (the latter focussing on neighbours), from Roland & Duchesne 1914, posted at this site Map : Carte de l'organisation administrative en 1910, from CoBelCo Map : Carte de l'organisation administrative en 1929, from CoBelCo Map : Carte de l'organisation administrative en 1940, Carte de l'organisation administrative en 1960, from CoBelCo |
Detail, Modern |
Relief Web,
Carte des distrits et territoires du Katanga |
Detail, Contemporary |
Topographical
Lannoy de Bissy, 1:2,000,000, Ounya-N'Zingue 1885, Kabebe 1885,
Inguimma 1885, Illinois University Library R. de Lannoy de Bissy, Carte de l'Afrique a l'echelle de 1:2 000 000, 35. Inguimma 1885, 36. Lado 1889, 39. San Salvador 1884, 39. San Salvador 1897, 40. Ounya-N'Zingue 1884, 40. Loulouabourg 1891, 40. Loulouabourg 1895, 41. Tabora 1885, 41. Tabora 1892, 44. Kabebe 1885, 44. Kabebe 1895, 45. Livingstonia 1888, Gallica U.S. Army Map Service, Belgian Congo 1:100,000, 1942, set of 7 sheets; Belgian Congo 1:200,000 1943, set of 13 sheets; posted by PCL, UTexas Great Britain. War Office. General Staff. Geographical Section, 1913-, reissued by U.S. Army Map Service, 1942-, Africa 1:1,000,000, sheets Ouesso, Coquilhatville, Stanleyville, Uganda, Banzyville, Wau, Mongalla, Banningville, Inongo, Costermansville, Lake Victoria, Leopoldville, Lusambo, Albertville, Tabora, Dilolo, Elizabethville, 1942-1943, posted by PCL, UTexas U.S. Army Map Service, Africa 1:2,000,000, sheets French Congo, Kisangani, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, 1958-1973, posted by PCL, UTexas Other Wikipedia : Lado Enclave (Hertslet 1909) R.P. Augouard, Carte du Congo depuis son embouchure jusqu'a Stanley-Pool, n.d., Gallica D'Anville, Carte particuliere du royaume de Congo et de ce qui precede depuis le cap de Lopo 1731, Gallica A.H. Brue, Carte d'une partie de l'Afrique equinoxiale 1829, Gallica Institut national de geographie (Bruxelles), Le Congo, depuis l'equateur jusqu'a l'Ocean et la vallee du Niadi-Kwilu 1883, Gallica A.J. Wauters, La region des sources du Congo, le Katanga et le bassin du Bangwelo 1898, Gallica |
Historical Encyclopedia Entries |
Secular |
Article Belgian Congo,
Congo Free State,
Kasai,
Katanga,
from EB 1911, Classic Encyclopedia, Internet Archive Wayback Machine |
Religious |
Article Congo Free State, from Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908 edition |
Economic |
Belgian Congo pp.351-353 in J. MacFarlane,
Economic geography, c. 1910, GB W.H. Weed, The Copper Mines of the World 1907, Congo Free State pp.133-136 |
Geographical |
Leo Africanus [c.1492-c.1550], The history and description of Africa
vol.1 1896, IA; Congo, Angola, Quizama pp.71-77;
vol.II 1896, IA; (Maghreb) A. du Bois, La Geographie moderne, naturelle historique & politique, vol.4 : Afrique etc., 1736, GB; ch.VIII Le Congo pp.763-767 Thomas Salmon, Modern history or the present state of all nations, 1744-1746 edition vol.3 Congo pp.37-38 T.G. Smollett, The Present State of all Nations, vol.8 1769, GB; Lower Guinea, or Congo pp.159-169 W. Guthrie, A new system of modern geography : or, A geographical, historical, and commercial grammar ; and present state of the several nations of the world ... vol.2 1794, IA; Of Africa from the Tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope pp.189-191 T.F. Ehrmann, Neueste Länder- und Völkerkunde, vol.8, Afrika, 1810, GB C. Malte-Brun, Universal Geography, vol.3, 1827, GB; Congo pp.30-53 |
Ethnological |
Belgian Congo, pp.381-409 in vol.1B of J.A. Hammerton,
Peoples of All Nations, c.1920, illustrated, IA |
Historical |
Parliamentary Debates |
Search Hansard (British Parliament) for Congo Verbatim report of the five days' Congo debate in the Belgian House of Representatives (February 20, 27, 28; Marth 1, 2) 1906, IA La Chambre des representants de Belgique, Annales parlementaires 1844/1845- Senat de Belgique, Annales 1848- |
Tourist Guides |
A. Donny, Manuel du voyageur et du resident au Congo, vol.1 1900,
vol.2 1900, IA |
Exhibition Catalogues |
Exposition universelle, Antwerpen : Les colonies et l'Etat indépendant du Congo
1895, IA Guide de la section de l'Etat independant du Congo a l'Exposition de Bruxelles-Tervueren en 1897, IA |
Institutions | Archives |
Musea |
Monuments |
Libraries |
National Libraries of Africa : Democratic Republic Congo |
National Symbols | Flags, Coats of Arms |
Flag, from FOTW; Coat of Arms from
International Civic Heraldry National Anthems, D.R. Congo, from National Anthems, from David's National Anthem Reference Page |
Coins, Banknotes |
Banknotes of Belgian Congo,
of Katanga,
of D.R. Congo, from World Currency Museum;
of Belgian Congo,
of Katanga,
of D.R. Congo from Ron Wise's World Paper Money Search Coin Archives for Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, D.R. Congo, Congo Leopoldville Belgian Congo, from Encyclopedia of Small Silver Coins Coin Catalog of Congo, D.R., from Numismaticon Katangan banknotes, from ATS World Paper Money Catalogue; The Banknotes of Katanga, by P.J. Symes, Book Review, with illustrations Katanga Coin, from Joel's Coins, a commercial site |
Stamps |
Rare Belgian Congo Stamps, from Sandafayre Stamps Gallery;
Congo Free State / Belgian Congo, 1886-1908, from Stamps Catalogue 1840-1920 by Evert Klaseboer Online Stamp & Post Card Catalogue Congo Free State, by Guy van Rijn, in French |
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Bibliographies | general |
Search ISBN Database |
on Congo | survey of bibliographies |
bibliographic database |
AfricaBib : Africana Periodical Literature,
African Women,
Women Travelers, Explorers and Missionaries to Africa African Borderlands Research Network : Bibliography Ethno-Net Africa Database : Congo Kinshasa, Bibliography |
general bibliographies |
A.J. Wauters, Bibliographie du Congo, 1880-1895, 1895, IA Belgian Information Center (NY), A selective bibliography of books on subjects related to the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi published in the U.S.A. from 1940 to 1958 1958, IA C. Monein, Congo-Bibliographie 1942 pp.233-349 in F.S. Bobb, Historical Dictionary of Zaire, Metuchen NJ : Scarecrow 1988 [G] pp.457-592 in V. Thompson, R. Adloff, S. Decalo, Historical Dictionary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lanham MD : Scarecrow 1996, KMLA Library R 967.51 B653h |
annual bibliographies |
specialist bibliographies |
Bibliographie de l'Archeologie de l'Afrique Centrale : Republique Democratique du Congo V.K. Muyumba, Luba-Kasai: A Working Bibliography, Electronic Journal of African Bibliography 9/2004 Bibliography - American Museum Congo Expedition 1909-1915 bibliographie histoire du Congo - La colonisation belge du Congo, from Cobelco F. Starr, A bibliography of Congo languages 1908, IA Columbia University Libraries, African Studies, The Art of Kuba Weaving : Suggested Reading Columbia University Libraries, African Studies, African Oral Tradition, History and Literature, DR Congo |
serial publications |
general Africa bibliographies Congo entries |
African Women Bibliographic Database Food and Culture (a bibliography), by R.T. Dirks, click on Sub-Saharan Africa J. Gay, Bibliographie des ouvrages relatifs a l'Afrique et a l'Arabie : catalogue methodique de tous les ouvrages français et des principaux en langues etrangeres traitant de la geographie, de l'histoire, du commerce, des lettres et des arts de l'Afrique et de l'Arabie 1875, in French, Gallica Roots Institute, Bibliography of Published Primary Sources in African History (English Language) Demokratische Republik Kongo-Bibliographie, from Afrika-Handbuch, at Univ. of Vienna |
booksellers |
Online Libraries | general |
Google Books;
Internet Archives;
Gutenberg Library Online;
HathiTrust Gallica International Boundary Studies |
on Congo |
Aluka, African Online Digital Library (AODL),
African Digital Library (ADL) |
Thesis Servers |
Online Journals | Guides |
Electronic Journals Online |
on Congo |
Le Congo Illustre, 1892,
1894,
1895, IA Aequatoria 1937-1962 Annales Aequatoria 1980-1999 |
General Accounts |
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Macropaedia, Vol.15, pp.644-650 Article Central Africa : Zaire. KMLA Lib.Sign. R 032 B862h v.15 Robert Cornevin, Histoire du Congo, Paris 1970 [G] |
Specific Topics |
Chapter 32 : Congo I : Belgian Policy in Africa, pp.646-668; 33 : Congo II : Uranium, Giants, Pygmies, pp.669-690,
in : John Gunther, Inside Africa, NY : Harper & Bros. (1953) 1955 [G] A. de Bauw, Katanga, Het Land, zijn Hulpbronnen en Toekomst (K., the land, its resources and future), Antwerpen : Het Nederlandsche Boekhandel 1920 [G] Insurgencies in Sudan, Uganda and Zaire, pp.203-227, in : John W. Turner, Continent Ablaze. The Insurgency Wars in Africa, 1960 to the Present, London : Cassell 1998 |
Historiography |
Historical Dictionaries |
F. Scott Bobb, Historical Dictionary of Zaire, Metuchen N.J. : Scarecrow 1988 [G] Terry M. Mays, Historical Dictionary of Multinational Peacekeeping, Lanham Md : Scarecrow 1996 [G] |
Historical Atlas |
Statistical Data |
IHS : B.R. Mitchell, International Historical Statistics. Africa, Asia & Oceania 1750-2000, London : Palgrave 2003 [G] |
Yearbook Entries | Britannica Book of the Year |
The Belgian Congo, 1913 pp.969-971 [G] Belgian Colonial Empire, 1944 p.106, 1945 p.103, 1946 pp.116-117, 1947 pp.121-122, 1948 p.116, 1949 pp.97-98, 1950 pp.105-106, 1951 p.103, 1952 p.99, 1953 pp.99-100, 1954 p.98, 1955 p.159, 1956 pp.99-100, 1957 p.158, 1958 p.98 [G] Belgian Overseas Territories, 1959 pp.100-101 [G] Congo, Republic of the, 1961 pp.187-190, 1962 pp.177-179, 1963 pp.289-290, 1964 pp.277-278 [G] Congo, Democratic Republic of the, 1965 pp.263-264, 1966 pp.209-210, 1967 pp.232-233, 1968 pp.232-234, 1969 pp.223-224, 1970 pp.228-229, 1971 p.215, 1972 pp.199-200 [G] Zaire : 1973 pp.735-736, 1974 pp.733-734, 1975 pp.733-734, 1976 pp.735-736, 1977 p.738, 1978 pp.735-736, 1979 pp.736-738, 1980 pp.734-735, 1981 pp.733-734, 1982 pp.733-734, 1983 pp.732-734, 1984 pp.733-734, 1985 pp.478-479, 816, 1986 pp.474-475, 817, 1988 pp.402-403, 737, 1989 pp.402-403, 737, 1990 pp.419-420, 753, 1993 pp.375, 753, 1994 pp.373-374, 753, 1995 pp.505-506, 753 [G] |
Statesman's Yearbook |
Congo Free State, 1895 pp.439-440 [G] Congo Independent State, 1898 pp.439-441, 1901 pp.504-509, 1905 pp.551-557 [G] Belgian Congo, 1910 pp.644-650, 1919 pp.698-703, 1924 pp.692-697, 1925 pp.702-708, 1926 pp.681-686, 1928 pp.689-695, 1929 pp.683-689, 1932 pp.688-694, 1937 pp.722-728, 1943 pp.724-729 [G] Congo, 1970-1971 pp.828-832 [G] Zaire, 1975-1976 pp.1489-1493, 1978-1979 pp.1612-1615, 1980-1981 pp.1613-1617, 1983-1984 pp.1616-1619, 1984-1985 pp.1618-1612, 1985-1986 pp.1614-1618, 1987-1988 pp.1615-1619, 1988-1989 pp.1618-1622, 1989-1990 pp.1614-1618, 1990-1991 pp.1616-1620, 1991-1992 pp.1612-1616, 1992-1993 pp.1621-1625, 1993-1994 pp.1625-1629, 1994-1995 pp.1623-1627, 1995-1996 pp.1616-1620, 1996-1997 pp.1614-1618, 1997-1998 pp.1618-1622 [G] Congo, DR, 1998-1999 pp.418-422, 2000 pp.483-488, 2001 pp.469-474, 2002 pp.489-494, 2003 pp.487-492, 2004 pp.488-493, 2005 pp.485-491 [G] |
International Yearbook |
Congo Free State, 1898 pp.209-212 [G] |
Americana Annual |
Belgian Congo, 1927 pp.95-96, 1928 pp.85-86, 1930 pp.100-101, 1931 pp.102-103, 1932 p.101, 1933 pp.91-92, 1934 pp.105-106, 1935 pp.92-93, 1936 p.84, 1937 p.72, 1943 pp.96-97, 1944 p.88, 1945 pp.89-90, 1946 pp.95-96, 1947 pp.74-75, 1957 pp.84-85 [G] Congo, Republic of the, 1961 pp.178-182, 1962 pp.180-185, 1963 pp.175-178, 1964 pp.175-178 (on events of 1963) [G] Congo Leopoldville, 1965 pp.188-191 (on events of 1964) [G] Congo, D.R., 1967 pp.205-206, 1968 pp.31, 194-196, 1969 pp.207-208, 1970 pp.212-213, 1971 p.221, 1972 pp.208-210 [G] Zaire, 1973 pp.752-753, 1974 pp.658-659, 1976 pp.602-603, 1989 p.577, 1990 p.562, 1992 p.573, 1993 pp.575-576, 1994 pp.576-577 [G] |
Others |
Article : Congo Free State, in : Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events 1886 pp.202-203, 1894 pp.151-155 [G] History of the Congo, pp.15-16; the Congo pp.144-153, in : Year Book and Guide to East Africa 1963 [G] |