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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) did not immediately win the payment of reparations to Congo to compensate for colonization.
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He says that in the VRT program ‘Ter Zake’. De Croo reaffirmed that the letter of regret about colonization to Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi was written on the personal initiative of King Philippe, with the full support of the government, of course. Two weeks ago, the Palace still signaled that it would await a historical consensus, but recent events have undoubtedly led to progressive insight. The Black Lives Matter protest against racism and exaggerated police brutality rolled out of the US like a crush on the West. In Laeken, the time was considered ripe to take action.
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From bowing to excuses
A particularly difficult issue remains the question of possible reparations for the suffering in Congo. Author and Congo expert Nadia Nsayi stated in ‘Terzake’ that that requirement can be put on the table by the Congolese government once the king’s first bowing is converted into official Belgian excuses. “There is not enough money to solve the suffering of the colonial period and beyond, but at least it is worth a discussion between Belgium and Congo.”
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De Croo is not very much in favor of compensation. His party colleague and President of the Chamber Patrick Dewael said last week that apologies may get a tail. Apart from apologies or excuses. Those who have made a mistake must compensate, says our code. ” Dewael did this in response to the special parliamentary committee on Congo that he wants to create. Possible reparations will be fodder for that committee, says Dewael, who does not want to speak pro or contra.
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Corruption
De Croo sees the challenges for Congo in a completely different area. Above all, he sees incredibly weak institutions that are unable to combat endemic corruption and extreme poverty. ‘It has never been possible to lift a population out of extreme poverty with a large bag of money. Real recovery can only come by building institutions and an economy, by eradicating corruption and by leaders who are not just out to enrich themselves, ”it says.
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He still sees a role for Belgium in the Congolese recovery. Congo is the start of a geopolitical race (a struggle for soil resources) between Europe, China, Russia, the US and the Congolese elite, which is crushing the population.
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Whether it concerns the UN, the World Bank or the IMF, Congo is always listened to in Belgium because we have knowledge and expertise about it. We will continue to play our part in this.
