Social media site, Twitter, flew the blue-yellow-red flag of Congo, high in honour of their 60th independence on Tuesday. Conversations on how far the country had come, the notable personalities who made it possible and the unexpected letter from Belgium’s King dominated the cyberspace

the independence of the congo reminds me of the decolonization struggle which continued after Lumumba's death by Pierre Mulele.

It reminds me of Leonie Abo, who was just 14 year old when she joinef the struggled and dedicated her life fighting to see a fully decolonized Congo pic.twitter.com/Lhhd60wL5S

— Judicaelle Irakoze (@Judicaelle_) June 30, 2020

 

Congo had been under Belgian colonial rule for more than 75 years under the lead of Leopold II of Belgium. In this time the Belgians never let any Congolese elite rise to power, so when they exited the nation, there very few who knew how to run the country. It was said that Belgium’s rule was so brutal that the population in Congo had drastically reduced from 20 million in 1885 to just half of that by 1908. 

They eventually attained independence from the European power on the 30th of June 1960 under the name, Republic of the Congo. However, the country still remained unstable and conflicts quickly arose. Patrice Lumumba had been elected the first Prime Minister, and Joseph Kasa-Vubu the first President, but violent disputes arose over the administration of the territory; tagged the Congo Crisis. The consequences of this crisis led to the torture and death of Patrice Lumbamba.

Africans on Twitter took this moment to honour the Congolese Nationalist, for his visionary movement and role in the independence of Congo. 

[Year of Africa]: Patrice Lumumba reading Congo’s Declaration of Independence on this day 60 years ago. Happy Independence Day to Congo! pic.twitter.com/IzY9fCkJ7A

— WaaberiPhone (@WaaberiPhone) June 30, 2020

Patrice Lumumba, a thread:

Today on the anniversary of independence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo we celebrate Patrice Lumumba. A visionary socialist pan-African leader, the first Prime Minister of the nation. pic.twitter.com/AQHejQnmN6

— The Free Black University (@freeblackuni) June 30, 2020

 

In the vibrations of the independence celebration and under the spotlight of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Belgian King, King Phillipe sent an unprecedented letter of remorse to the Republic of Congo. The King sent his “deepest regrets” to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because of the “suffering and humiliation” Congo had suffered in the hands of Belgium. He, however, did not explicitly apologise for his ancestor’s atrocities.  

The King of Belgium has sent his "deepest regrets" to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the "suffering" his nation inflicted while it colonized the region — but stopped short of apologizing for his ancestor Leopold II's atrocities. https://t.co/47INJ5W8Wc

— CNN (@CNN) June 30, 2020

 

With the letter becoming public, Africans and Nigerians alike had a lot of comments to attach to the issue. Many proclaimed that “deepest regrets” did not suffice; claiming that the years of harm done by the Belgium rule deserved nothing less than reparations.

" deepest regrets" while his ancestor King Leopold II wiped down 10 million Congolese in just 20 years, made billions from their minerals and when he was tired of killing, he sold Congo to Belgium for some millions on top of the wealth he collected.

Humm? Deepest regrets???!!! https://t.co/4BA7gO1M2b

— Judicaelle Irakoze (@Judicaelle_) June 30, 2020

So Leopold’s grandson is apologizing for his grandfather’s sins.

Apology is not enough.

Reparations should consist Belgium building the Congo since the Congo built Belgium.

All those cities formerly named after them: Leopoldville to Elizabethville to Stanleyville, etc.

— Lonzen Rugira (@LonzenRugira) June 30, 2020

Expressing your regrets is cool but that apology needs to be accompanied with reparations for Congo! pic.twitter.com/oL4gFVtQVv

— YT: Demi Irawo (@Demi_Irawo) June 30, 2020

 

Many have pointed fingers at the tyrannical rule of the Belgians as the reason 70 percent of the population of Congo live in poverty, despite their rich natural resources.