1. Central Africa Post WWII

2. Why Europeans were interested in C Africa
Natural Resources
Exploitation
Colonization

3. Henry Morton Stanley Famous explorer / journalist
Claimed the Congo River basin for King Leopold II of Belgium
In search of Dr. Livingston
Responsible for the deaths of many Africans in the Congo

4. Dr. Livingston Medical missionary and explorer of Africa
London Missionary Society
First European to cross the interior of Africa
Lost contact with the outside world and
was found by H. M. Stanley
Died in Africa

5. C Africa Before, During and After WWII

6. C Africa Before, During and After WWII
Almost all of Africa was under colonial rule during WWII
Not until after the war did independence movements gain support
European countries were left weak after WWII
However most countries were not given support or prepared for self rule
As a result may bloody conflicts erupted

7. C Africa Before, During and After WWII
Country
Year of Independence
Cameroon
1960
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central African Republic
The Congo
Gabon
Rwanda
1962
Burundi
Zambia
1964
Equatorial Guinea
1968
Angola
1975

8. Gabon Became independent in 1960 Omar Bongo 1935-2009
Second President of Gabon
World’s longest serving non-monarch ruler
One of world’s wealthiest heads of state
Speculation of corruption from country’s oil money profits

9. Republic of the Congo Gained independence in 1960 from Belgium
Patrice Lumumba
Independence leader and first elected Prime Minister
Only lasted 10 months
Congo Crisis
Lumumba was ousted by a military coup, imprisoned and executed by firing squad
Coup was supported by the US government

10. Ziare Sese Seko takes control of the Congo with the support of the US
Wanted to purge country of colonial past
Created an authoritarian gov’t
Was corrupt
Over thrown in the First Congo War

11. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Renamed again after the First Congo War
Laurent Kabila was the first President
Promised reform but never happened
He was assassinated by his body guards
Joseph Kabila
Son of Laurent took over country after his father’s death
Thought to be inexperienced
Rebuilt relations with the West and made reforms
Ended the Second Congo War

12. Other Issues in C. Africa
Deforestation
Commercial companies are cutting down the rainforests in C. Africa
Wildlife Poaching
Animals such as gorillas, elephants, and rinos are killed and harvested for their value on the black market