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Romance of the Three Congos

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Almost immediately after gaining independence, the Republic of the Congo is beset by Political Upheaval and crisis. Granted independence before the resolutions, the new country is beset by crisis, as secessionist movements in South Katai and Katanga, with Belgian backing, attempt to breakaway as the nation encounters mutiny and violence. The charismatic Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, calls for UN assistance to crush the secessionist movements. The UN sends peacekeepers to protect civilians and arrest foreign mercenaries, but refuses to assist Leopoldville in suppressing internal dissent and separatism. This leads Lumumba to attempt to stop the secession states on his own, asking for help from the Soviet Union. Despite this requested assistance, government forces are repelled when  Katanga allies with, then later annexs, South Kasai.

                The Soviet involvement leads to a split in government, leading to a split between Lumumba and the Congolese President. This split allows an ambitious army officer named Joseph-Désiré Mobutu to take power in a coup d’état. Mobutu then proceeds to expel Soviet advisors, strengthen his grip on power, and arrest and execute Lumumba. A rival government of Lumumba supporters led by  Antoine Gizenga establishes a government in Stanleyville. Mobutu attempts to crush the rival government. However he is foiled by Soviet and Chinese-trained guerillas known as Simba’s, who assist the Stanleyville Government in thwarting Mobutu’s attempts to control the eastern part of the Congo.

                Mobutu receives no help from the UN, who begin to withdraw after the death of UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld. The UN stays long enough to broker a ceasefire between the warring factions, but that’s about it.

                The ceasefire leaves the Congo divided into three parts. The western part, renamed by Mobutu (who rules it as a personal fiefdom) as Zaire, is beset by corruption and cronyism. The Northeastern part, renamed as the Democratic People’s Republic of the Congo (or DPRC), becomes a typical Marxist-Leninist state, propped up by the Soviet Union and its allies. The third part, in the southeast, is Katanga. Once considered a Belgian puppet state, Cold War concerns lead to Western world recognition and support. The most industrialized of the Congos, Katanga’s wealth is mostly concentrated in the hands of white settlers and black leaders, while the rest of the population lingers just above poverty.

                The end of the cold war leads to another period of conflict. Unable to continue to play off the Cold War players for support and resources, Mobutu (by then going under the name of Mobutu Sese Seko is disposed). This coincides with the collapse of the DPRC government, having lost the generous support of the now nonexistent Soviet Union. Territorial, ethnic, and political rivalries draw Katanga into the conflicts. The Congo war between, and within the three Congos began in 1998, and continues intermittently today.

                The borders of each state are taken from the areas of control by each faction in 1961 OTL. The Zaire and Katanga flags are taken from Wikipedia, while the DPRC flag was created by me. Please feel free to leave a comment!

Democratic People's Republic of the Congo (DPRC) flag
Democratic People's Republic of the Congo Flag by dragonvanguard 

UPDATE: Created a new map, modified the description


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TanishaTG's avatar

This looks cool, rare to see althistory about African nations!