{"id":232594,"date":"2022-07-28T00:56:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T22:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/belgium-is-reviewing-its-colonial-past-in-the-drc-its-a-sensitive-but-necessary-process\/"},"modified":"2022-07-28T00:56:48","modified_gmt":"2022-07-27T22:56:48","slug":"belgium-is-reviewing-its-colonial-past-in-the-drc-its-a-sensitive-but-necessary-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/belgium-is-reviewing-its-colonial-past-in-the-drc-its-a-sensitive-but-necessary-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgium is reviewing its colonial past in the DRC: it’s a sensitive but necessary process"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The year 2022 is shaping up to be a critical period for the troubled relationship<\/a> between Kinshasa and Brussels. <\/p>\n

In June, during a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Belgian king Philippe expressed his regret<\/a> for the wounds of his country\u2019s colonial past. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo then apologised<\/a> for Belgium\u2019s \u201cmoral responsibility\u201d for the 1961 assassination of DRC Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. The country later repatriated his remains<\/a>. <\/p>\n

From the outset, DRC President F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi has said<\/a> that the challenge for the two nations is to look to the future. He hopes in particular that stronger ties with Belgium will help attract more investments. <\/p>\n

But there are those in the DRC who think Belgium hasn\u2019t done enough yet to compensate for its past. Opposition senator Francine Nkanga, for instance, has said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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We will never look to the future without an apology and reparations from Belgium.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So even if both Kinshasa and Brussels want to frame their relationship as one looking into the future, it\u2019s clear that their common past still weighs heavily on their countries. <\/p>\n

In July 2020, Belgium set up a parliamentary commission to look into the country\u2019s colonial history and how to best address its consequences. <\/p>\n

The commission is expected to come up with concrete recommendations<\/a> later this year. It\u2019s hoped they will provide an idea of how to heal the relationships between Belgians, Congolese, Rwandans and Burundians. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a Herculean task. <\/p>\n

The commission\u2019s mission is to shed light on a controversial history. It\u2019s required to critically assess the roles of the state, monarchy, church and corporations during Leopold II\u2019s regime (1885-1908). It will also cover Belgium\u2019s colonial rule (1908-1960), and the country\u2019s history in Rwanda and Burundi (1919-1962). <\/p>\n

I interviewed Wouter De Vriendt, the chairperson of the commission, for insights into the team\u2019s work. He said:<\/p>\n

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The recommendations could be deployed in many fields: decolonisation of the public space, cultural heritage, fight against racism and xenophobia, academic research, education, and diplomatic and development cooperation relations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But some political parties<\/a> question this scope. Criticisms have also mounted from people of African descent living in Belgium. <\/p>\n

Among other things, they say the commission doesn\u2019t sufficiently include black and mixed-race people, and that their current struggles aren\u2019t taken into account. In their view, the floor is primarily given to academic experts, revealing a persistent coloniality<\/a> of knowledge. <\/p>\n

As a history professor who has examined<\/a> the influence of the past on current political, economic and cultural relations between Africa and Europe, I\u2019m aware that it\u2019s crucial yet intricate to understand the points of view of people whose experiences we don\u2019t share. <\/p>\n

The work of Belgium\u2019s parliamentary commission crystallises some of those challenges societies in Europe face when dealing with their colonial past. It may be on a difficult path, but it\u2019s a necessary one.<\/p>\n

Grappling with the past<\/h2>\n

In 2020, George Floyd\u2019s murder<\/a> in the US and the worldwide Black Lives Matter movement revived long-standing claims from diaspora organisations<\/a> that have denounced the persistence of neo-colonial patterns in Belgium. <\/p>\n

These trends still feed racism and discrimination<\/a> in the country today. <\/p>\n

In July 2020, Belgium\u2019s parliament appointed<\/a> a commission to investigate the country\u2019s colonial past, document its consequences and propose appropriate responses. <\/p>\n

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Read more: Patrice Lumumba\u2019s tooth represents plunder, resilience and reparation<\/a> <\/strong> <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

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The first task of the commission \u2013 with 17 members<\/a> from across Belgium\u2019s political spectrum \u2013 was to appoint a multi-disciplinary committee. These 10 experts released a report<\/a> in October 2021. <\/p>\n

In a bid to broaden and deepen the conclusions of this report, parliamentarians organised hearings with diaspora and civil society. A large panel of international experts also makes presentations every week on the responsibilities of the actors involved in colonisation. <\/p>\n

The debate is currently focused on relevant kinds of reparation and reconciliation processes. <\/p>\n

The interviewed experts change weekly, but three independent academic specialists are working with parliament permanently. <\/p>\n

A rocky path<\/h2>\n

From the onset, the commission faced hurdles. <\/p>\n

While public and political attention peaked with the Black Lives Matter movement, priorities shifted following the COVID pandemic in 2020 and the 2022 war in Ukraine, and their economic fallout. <\/p>\n

This prompted certain parties<\/a> to question the importance of the commission\u2019s exercise. <\/p>\n

In particular, establishing historical responsibilities and possible financial reparations triggered heated debates<\/a> between experts and political parties. <\/p>\n

For observers, the dire humanitarian and security situation, recently aggravated in Eastern Congo<\/a>, should be higher on the political agenda than the scrutiny of history. <\/p>\n

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Read more: Retracing Belgium’s dark past in the Congo, and attempts to forge deeper ties<\/a> <\/strong> <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

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Some also worry about the political gains that lawmakers taking part in the commission may seek to reap.<\/p>\n

In response to this, De Vriendt told me: <\/p>\n

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The commission represents a broad range of Belgian ideologies and interests, and is synthesising many topics and opinions \u2026 This is the first time that diasporas have been included in a parliamentary initiative to such an extent \u2026 The three independent academics additionally help to depoliticise and objectify the work and methodology adopted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Yet the points of view shared each week can be diametrically opposed. Drawing constructive conclusions for present and future generations will, therefore, be a trying task. <\/p>\n

But when I interviewed him, De Vriendt emphasised that the commission\u2019s objective \u201cis not to come to a shared \u2018truth\u2019 nor to create consensus around a definitive narrative on history\u201d.<\/p>\n

Its aim, he said, was to \u201cdemonstrate that Belgium is capable of an open, lucid and thorough reflection on its past and its consequences, and \u2026 practical recommendations will follow, paving the way for appeased and improved relations between Belgians, Congolese, Rwandans and Burundians\u201d. <\/p>\n

What reconciliation means<\/h2>\n

Among possible reparations, official apologies and financial retribution are most frequently listed. But they are the tip of an iceberg. <\/p>\n

To move past the past, Belgium is considering other avenues. These include restitution of artefacts<\/a>, joint research between Congolese and Belgians, reformed education, facilitation of visas for people from its former colonies and fighting discrimination faced by African descendants in Belgium. <\/p>\n

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Read more: Uganda-DRC reparations verdict raises questions about the price of justice<\/a> <\/strong> <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

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The final recommendations could also apply to Belgium\u2019s development policy in central Africa to foster more inclusive and equitable partnerships. <\/p>\n

Given the scope of competencies targeted, all layers of the Belgian state will likely be called to action in the final report expected in December 2022. This will include the federal government and local authorities. They, in turn, will have to take inspiration from the proposals, should they choose to do so.<\/p>\n

Source: The Conversation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The year 2022 is shaping up to be a critical period for the troubled relationship between Kinshasa and Brussels. In June, during a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Belgian king Philippe expressed his regret for the wounds of his country\u2019s colonial past. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo then apologised for Belgium\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":232595,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4584],"tags":[3257],"class_list":{"0":"post-232594","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-africa-news-2","8":"tag-mypr","9":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/belgium-is-reviewing-its-colonial-past-in-the-drc-its-a-sensitive-but-necessary-process.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/232595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=232594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=232594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}