The King of the Belgians gave satisfaction to the Congolese by unequivocally condemning the abuses of the past
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this Tuesday, June 7.
It was the last Wednesday that the visit of the Belgian sovereigns to the Congo really began, the first royal visit in 12 years, initially planned for 2020 for the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Congo but postponed three times because of the health crisis and then the war in Ukraine.
In 2010, King Albert II was invited to visit Congo during the era of Joseph Kabila. The King of the Belgians, however, did not speak and was instructed not to make a statement in public.
“If you want to be able to work as real partners who can look each other in the eye, you have to face the past. It’s impossible not to look the past in the eye,” says Alexander De Croo.
King Philippe had already taken a step in this direction, by addressing a public and historic letter to Tshisekedi in 2021. In this letter, he expressed his "deepest regrets for these wounds of the past whose pain is today rekindled by the discrimination still too present in our societies".
In particular, the king wrote that during the era "of the Congo Free State, acts of violence and cruelty were committed, which still weigh on our collective memory.
The colonial period that followed also caused suffering and humiliation.” After such a historic position and a critical look at Belgium's past, King Philippe's speech to the Congolese parliamentary assembly was eagerly awaited. "The message the King brings should not be underestimated," the prime minister said the day before the speech.
After President Tshisekedi's long address and a moment of contemplation, King Philippe took the floor. “We are finally here among you with immense joy. Which proves that one should never despair,” said King Philip. “In the face of difficult situations your dignity and courage command respect. We also salute you, the children and young people who represent the majority of the population. You are the future of the country. » “Congolese culture is rich in its traditions. In it is expressed the Congolese soul imprinted with this extraordinary vitality that is unique to it. (…) 62 years ago the Congo and Belgium turned an essential page in their common history”, continued the King of the Belgians who comes to the most delicate subject.
The king recalled that Congo now wishes to look to the future by writing a new chapter with the youth "without forgetting the past but by fully assuming it in order to transmit to the new generation a peaceful history". “Although many Belgians invested themselves deeply, the colonial regime likesuch was based on exploitation and domination. This regime was that of an unequal and unjustifiable relationship marked by paternalism, discrimination and racism. It gave rise to abuses and humiliations,” King Philip said. “Right here, facing the Congolese people and those who still suffer today, I wish to reaffirm my deepest regret for these wounds of the past. Sincere regrets that I had expressed in the letter that I had addressed to you two years ago to the president”. "Mr. President, you and I are too young to have known the Congo before its independence." The king spoke of a legacy that anchored the country to its current borders. “The territorial integrity of the Congo is a major concern that we share. ".
King Philippe also spoke of the instabilities that still plague the country and which are worrying. The King affirmed that Belgium, like the international bodies, will provide the necessary support to put an end to the troubles. “Our two peoples have been able to weave, thanks to a very special affinity, rich and varied interpersonal ties that help us build the future. The king spoke of the Congolese whom he met frequently in Belgium and who contribute to the wealth of his country. The king also mentioned the Congolese soldiers who fought in the various world wars. These should not be forgotten. King Philippe recalled that cooperation between the two countries has had its ups and downs.
Despite this break in diplomatic relations for several years, the king said: “The Congo thus remains our most important partner in Africa. » "Belgium will continue to support any initiative that contributes to the well-being of your country. Our commitment to the DRC remains the same: that of supporting the stabilization of the country as well as respect for human rights.
King Philippe mentioned the subsoil resources of a Congo river complex and the CO2 production of Congolese forests. "It is your energy, your dynamism and your work that will be an added value for the benefit of Congo". The king said he was confident: “The Congo has so much to offer the African continent and the whole world. Long live the Congo and long live the Belgo-Congolese friendship”.
King Philippe's speech in French was interspersed with short passages delivered by the sovereign in Swahili, Lingala, Kinyarwanda and Kikongo. "Everything we hoped for from King Philippe, we received," said the presenter of the Congolese channel RTNC, at the end of the speech. "We are very far from the paternalistic discourse of King Baudouin," said the public channel commentator. "He recognized that there were wrongdoings in the past."
A second speech by King Philippe is planned during the stopover in Lubumbashi. King Philippe will later join the second city of the country and must addressr Friday to students at the University of Lubumbashi. The city is the capital of the mining region of Haut-Katanga, in the south of the country.
Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor
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