The first cracks in the building appeared at the end of the 1950s. An economic recession caused significant unemployment:the impossibility of accessing higher jobs created growing unrest among blacks:the influence of neighboring countries was gradually being felt. little feel. In this troubled atmosphere, investments are decreasing, capital is fleeing the country and unemployment is increasing. At the same time. ethnic hostilities escalate. especially in cities. where declining hiring causes strong competition. Hence the serious riots in Léopoldville. in January 1959:workers and unemployed will free themselves from decades of resentment by looting and burning.
Frightened by these events, the Belgians then completely change their policy and agree to quickly give their independence on the sides. But they face a dilemma. because in the Congo. unlike other West African states. There is no relatively experienced elite to hand over power to. There is also no political tradition that can unite the country. In a hurry. the Belgians are trying to fill these gaps. Leaders are quickly trained and political activities are authorized for the first time.
In these circumstances. it was inevitable that an extremist movement would emerge. Indeed, there was no elite capable of asserting that it would be more profitable
to maintain good relations with the colonial power and to be patient.
The Congolese National Movement the MNC will quickly dominate the political scene. This movement is based on a rather fragile alliance between the peasantry of the central region, the proletariat of the allies and the various tribal groups in the South. The leader is Patrice Lumumba, a former postal worker who lived part of his life in Stanleyville and whose fiery personality is the emanation of the frustrations and aspirations of all Congolese. The only consistent opposition to the
comes from the Conakat party in Katanga. led by Moise Tschombé and solidly supported by the Europeans. and the Abako party, in the region of Iéopoldville. which is led by Joseph Kasavubu.
After very turbulent elections and protracted negotiations. the Belgians, finally. pass the powers. on June 30, 1960, to a coalition government in which Lumumba was Prime Minister and Kasavubu President of the Republic. Time is running out for Africanization. Also the executives of the administration and the army are still Belgian.
With independence, the Congo has acquired instability. For many observers, all it takes is a spark for the fire to break out.
It will ultimately be a mutiny in the army that will cause the explosion. In Leopoldville and Thysville. Congolese soldiers. full of resentment for their superiors and seeing that the prospects for Africanization are nil, lock up their officers and behave like fanatics. The mutiny quickly spread to other units and the Belgian population began to flee the country.
Belgium sent troops and Moïse Tschombé, supported by the powerful Mining Union and other Belgian holdings, proclaims the independence of Katanga. Seeing the country descend into chaos, Belgian troops pouring in and the richest province seceding, Lumumba and Kasavubu launch a desperate appeal to the United Nations.
With the declaration of independence, the Congo becomes the center of interest not only of foreign companies, anxious to preserve their capital, but also of Afro-Asian states and major powers. It is against this backdrop that the UN Security Council, with the agreement of the United States and the Soviet Union, will authorize the dispatch to the Congo of a contingent of blue helmets", under the orders of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold.
At first the UN and the government of Congo cooperated effectively. But relations will begin to deteriorate when Hammarskjold, under pressure from certain Western business groups who would like to see the wealth of Katanga fall into the hands of the docile Tschombé, refuses that the troops of the U.N. take part in an action against Katanga.