Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
The Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence is observed on January 4 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a national holiday honoring those who lost their lives in the 1959 Léopoldville riots. This event occurred during a time when the DRC was still a Belgian colony, and there was a growing desire among the Congolese people for self-governance, influenced by the independence movements across Africa. The Abako organization, which represented the interests of the Bas-Congo population and was led by Joseph Kasavubu, played a significant role in the quest for emancipation.
On the night of the commemoration, a planned meeting by Abako was thwarted when the venue was closed, leading to widespread demonstrations. The resulting riots highlighted the tensions between the local population and the colonial authorities, as well as the disparity between European settlers and the Congolese people living in poverty. The violent unrest prompted a response from both the police and the military, and ultimately led to a promise of elections by Belgian King Baudoin. These elections, held in May 1960, culminated in the DRC achieving independence on June 30, 1960. The annual commemoration serves as a reflection on the struggles for freedom and the sacrifices made by those who advocated for the country's independence.
Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
January 4 is a national holiday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, commemorating those who died in a riot in Léopoldville on this day in 1959. At the time, the Congo was still a colony of Belgium, its economy fueled almost entirely by Belgian corporations that had invested in the territory. The native peoples of the Congo were growing restless for self-rule, especially after having watched several other African nations, including Guinea and Ghana, achieve their own independence during the 1950s. A number of organizations working for emancipation emerged in the latter half of the decade, among them the order of Abako, comprised of peoples of the Bas-Congo and headed by Joseph Kasavubu, a teacher. Free elections were first decreed on March 26, 1957, at which time cities were divided into European and African municipal districts. The Abako association won the majority of seats in its municipality and became the most powerful political entity in the Congo.
On the night of January 4, 1959, Abako was scheduled to hold a meeting in a hall in the European-style city of Léopoldville, but the hall's owner closed it at the last minute. This action prompted the group of Africans gathered there—many of whom lived in poverty in shanty towns on the outskirts of the city—to take to the streets in violent demonstration. Europeans were given arms to defend themselves by the police, who were unable to control the crowd. On the third day of rioting, the army was called in, and on January 13, King Baudoin of Belgium announced that elections would be scheduled that would lead the people of the Congo to self-rule. Elections were held in May 1960, and independence was finally granted on June 30, 1960.