African Independence

Africa changed so much over the 20 years beacuse of

Africa has had an employed system of forced labor. While draining wealth
from the colony, Belgium had provided no social services. It also had made no
attempt to prepare the people for independence.

Belgium’s granting of independence in 1960 to the 

Congo (known as Zaire [zah•IHR] from 1965 to 1997) resulted in upheaval. prime minister Patrice 

Lumumba a local leader named Moise Tshombe (MOHzee CHUHMbee) declared that region’s independence. Tshombe was backed by Belgian mining interests. Lumumba, with Communist connections, first appealed to the United Nations for help in putting down Tshombe’s rebellion. He then turned to 

the Soviet Union for aid. At this point, a coup led by an army officer, Colonel Joseph 

Mobutu, later known as Mobutu Sese Seko (moh•BOO•tooSAY•say SAY•koh), over- 

threw Lumumba and turned him over to his enemy, Tshombe.

 Lumumba was 

murdered while in Tshombe’s custody. Tshombe himself ruled briefly until he was 

overthrown by Mobutu, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1965.