Conflict and subversion in the Central Congo between 1920 and 1940

Abstract

Resume au Congo, la periode d'entre les deux guerres, est souvent consideree comme etant pacifique et un exemple de stabilite sous l'Administration Belge. Revoltes et insurrections se seraient produites avant et apres, mais pas pendant les annees vingt. Le but de cet article est de prouver le contraire. Les preuves qui sont avancees ici s'appliquent sur trois districts: l'Equateur, le Sankuru et le Lac Leopold II. La majorite de l'information provient de documents d'archives coloniales. Mots-cle: Congo Belge; Leopold II; Entre les deux guerres; revoltes; insurrections; Equateur; Sankuru; Lac Leopold II. Summary The interwar colonial period in the Congo is often considered as a peaceful and stable example of the ideal Belgian rule. Revolts and contestations arose before and after, but not during these twenty years. It is the aim of the article to counter this idea by providing proof of the contrary. The evidence that is presented here focuses on three districts that were located in the central Congo, namely the Equateur/Tshuapa district, the Lac Leopold II district and the Sankuru district. The majority of the information is based on colonial archival data. Keywords: Belgian Congo; Leopold II; Interwar; revolts; Equator; Sankuru; Lac Leopold II. Annales AEquatoria 24(2003): 77-96