— Ch. 1 · Colonial Mining Foundations —
State of Katanga.
~6 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
In 1906, the Union Minière du Haut-Katanga company received exclusive rights to mine copper in Katanga. The principal shareholders included the Comité Spécial du Katanga and the Société Générale de Belgique. The Belgian state held the largest share of the Comité Spécial de Katanga. By the 1950s, about 32,000 Belgian settlers lived in Katanga. This made it the province with the most Belgian residents. Thirty-three point seven percent of Congo revenue came from copper sales. Leaders of the Congolese Independence movement viewed ownership as critical. Belgium refused to relinquish its stake until 1967. In January 1959, independence was announced for June 1960. Starting March 1960, UMHK financially supported CONAKAT. Moïse Tshombe accepted bribes to advocate favorable policies. The province linked economically to the Central African Federation. White settlers discussed plans for Katanga to join that federation after independence. Etienne Harford told Sir Roy Welensky in March 1960 that Belgium wanted a political association. Welensky expected Katanga to break away and join the Federation.
The July Secession Declaration
On the 11th of July 1960, Moïse Tshombe announced Katanga's secession from Congo-Léopoldville. He accused the central government of communist leanings and dictatorial rule. Union Minière du Haut-Katanga gave Tshombe an advance of 1,250 million Belgian francs. This sum equaled approximately 25 million US dollars at the time. Tshombe asked Belgian Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens for help. A newly appointed commander of the Élisabethville military garrison arrived in the city. Katangese authorities detained and expelled him immediately. He flew to Luluabourg to inform President Joseph Kasa-Vubu and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Godefroid Munongo denied them permission to land at the airport. Lumumba was not allowed to enter the territory. They returned to Luluabourg in frustration. On the 16th of July 1960, Eyskens extended de facto recognition to Katanga. The Mission Technique Belge formed on the 22nd of July to assist with arms and advisers. Colonel Norbert Muke became the new commander. He organized the Katanga Gendarmerie using Belgian officers as seconded military advisers. Baluba populations actively opposed independence in northern districts. Southern residents were never directly consulted on the matter.