Discussion
Ask a question about 'South Kasai' Start a new discussion about 'South Kasai' Answer questions from other users |
South Kasai was a secessionist region in the area of south central
Republic of the CongoThe Republic of the Congo was an independent republic established following the independence granted to the former colony of the Belgian Congo in 1960...
(Léopoldville) during the early 1960s. The region sought independence in similar circumstances to neighboring
State of KatangaKatanga was a break away state proclaimed on 11 July 1960 separating itself from the newly independent Republic of the Congo. In revolt against the new government of Patrice Lumumba in July, Katanga declared independence under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local CONAKAT party...
during the political turmoil arising from the
decolonizationDecolonization refers to the undoing of colonialism, the establishment of governance or authority through the creation of settlements by another country or jurisdiction. The term generally refers to the achievement of independence by the various Western colonies and protectorates in Asia and...
of
Belgian CongoThe Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and the dawn of Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Background: 1884-1908:Until the later...
. Ethnic conflicts and political tensions between leaders of the central government and local leaders plagued the
diamondIn mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is the second most stable form of carbon, after graphite; however, the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is...
-rich region.
Secession
On 14 June 1960, days before the colony was to become independent, officials declared the independence of Kasai (not of Congo) and proclaimed the Federal State of South Kasai. On 8 August 1960, the autonomous
Mining State of South Kasai was proclaimed with its capital at Bakwanga (present-day Mbuji-Mayi).
Albert KalonjiAlbert Kalonji is a Congolese politician best known for leading the short-lived secessionist state of South Kasai during the Congo Crisis...
was named president of South Kasai and Joseph Ngalula was appointed head of government.
An assembly of notables invested Kalonji's father with the imperial title of
Mulopwe on 12 April 1961. The new emperor immediately abdicated in favor of his son, who thereafter ruled South Kasai as Mulopwe (
Emperor or
King) Albert I Kalonji.
Reintegration
After a bloody four month military campaign during which thousands of civilians were massacred, troops of the Congolese central government re-conquered the region and arrested Kalonji on 30 December 1961, thus ending the South Kasai secession.
Kalonji attempted to set up a new government following an escape from prison on 7 September 1962, but it was terminated less than a month later.
Under the subsequent regime of Joseph Mobutu (Mobutu Sese Seko), the former South Kasai was divided to discourage separatist sentiment or activity.
External Resources