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Belgian Overseas Territories in Africa

Belgium no longer has any overseas territories in Africa but at one time they had two, the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo. Today those territories are the independent countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), and Rawanda.

Congo Free State: 1885-1908
The Congo Free State existed from 1885 to 1908 and it was a corporate state privately controlled by the King of Belgium.

Belgian Congo: 1908-1960
When King Leopold II turned his personal property, the Congo Free State over to Belgium, it became known as the Belgian Congo. The Belgian Congo existed between November 15, 1908 to the region's independence on June 30, 1960.

History of Belgian Overseas Territories in Africa
  • 1867-1885: Colonisation
  • 1885-1908: Congo Free State
  • 1908-1960: Belgian Congo
  • 1960-1965: First Republic of the Congo
  • 1965-1996: Mobuto regime in Zaire
  • 1977: Shaba I
  • 1978: Shaba II
  • 1996-1998: First Congo War
  • 1998-2003: Second Congo War



  • Related Links
    Other Overseas Territories in Africa
    The Countries of Africa
    Do It In Africa

    Elsewhere on the Web
    Wikipedia on the Scramble for Africa

    Do It In Africa
    Quick Reference Travel Guide




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