Within two weeks of independence the army mutinied, Belgian troops returned and mineral-rich Katanga broke away. Economic interests and regional loyalties drove the secessions.
On 5 July 1960 soldiers mutinied against their Belgian officers. There were attacks on Europeans, and many Belgians fled.
On 10 July Belgium sent troops back in to protect its citizens. It did not have the Congolese government's consent.
On 11 July Moise Tshombe declared Katanga independent. Katanga held most of the Congo's copper, cobalt and uranium. Union Miniere, a Belgian mining company, paid its taxes to Tshombe's government. Belgian officers and foreign mercenaries led his army.
In August 1960 South Kasai, rich in diamonds, also broke away under Albert Kalonji, a leader of the Baluba people.
The secessions mixed economic interests with ethnic and regional loyalties. Leaders of rich provinces did not want to share their wealth with a central government led by Lumumba.
- Mutiny
- 5 July 1960.
- Belgian troops
- Return on 10 July 1960.
- Katanga secedes
- 11 July 1960, under Tshombe.
- South Kasai secedes
- August 1960, under Kalonji.
Worked example: Explaining Katanga's secession
Why did Katanga break away?
- Economic interests: mineral wealth and Union Miniere's support.
- Ethnic and regional loyalty: Tshombe's base in southern Katanga.
- Domestic politics: opposition to Lumumba's centralised state.
- External support: Belgian officers and mercenaries.
Watch out for this
Katanga's secession was a purely local independence movement.
Tshombe had local support, but Katanga's state depended on Belgian money, officers and mercenaries, and on Union Miniere's revenues.
Check your understanding
Why did Union Miniere support Katanga's secession?
- It wanted to protect its mines and profits from Lumumba's government.
- It wanted the UN to run Katanga.
- It was owned by the Soviet Union.