The Congo Crisis

The geographic elements of the Congo River Basin, with low elevation and many rivers and passages to sea trade routes resulted in both internal conflict between Congolese states as well as facilitated European colonization, who were attracted to the region's rich and vast natural resources. While European colonizers viewed their conquest of the Congo as a favor towards the Congolese, claiming they improved the quality of life and infrastructure within the region, the impact of Leopold's Congo Free State and Belgian rule holds ripple effects that hold till this day, despite the Congo gaining independence in 1960. The atrocities of Belgian rule resulted in anti-western sentiment that helped Congo nationalists fight for independence - however, as demonstrated by the Congo crisis, the First and Second Congo wars, the Katanga secession attempt, and the more contemporary Kasai conflict, European colonization crippled an already divided nation, perpetuating regional conflict for the next century.