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Period: to
Berlin Conference
Summoned by Otto von Bismarck to talk about new set of rules for European colonial expansion in Africa.
2 Important principles were established:
- 1st a country's claims to a territory could be based only on effective occupation.
- 2nd all newly acquired areas must remain open to free international trade—> this meant that colonisation became very expensive (because no one could impose trade barriers, transit charges or import and export duties). -
Period: to
Congo Free/Independent State
The Congo Independent State under the personal government of King Leopold lasted from 1885 to 1908. -
Régime Domanial Law
- The state had been declared proprietor of all vacant land, which would henceforth constitute its domain.
- Allowed for appropriation of land where rubber and ivory was found!
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Rubber Demand
Lucky timing as the state was going bankrupt. -
Leopold's Death
Leopold dies and leaves to his son Albert I who adopted a more discreet and less self-willed stance when it came to Congo. -
Republic of Congo Independence
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Period: to
First Republic
1960-1965 known as the First Republic led by Kasavubu. -
Period: to
Mobutu's Second Republic
1965-1997 Mobutu was in power.