The Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference (French: Table ronde belgo-congolaise) was a meeting organized in two parts in 1960 in Brussels (January 20 – February 20 and April 26 – May 16 ) between on the one side representatives of the Congolese political class and chiefs (French: chefs coutumiers) and on the other side Belgian political and business leaders. The round table meetings led to the adoption of sixteen resolutions on the future of Belgian Congo and its institutional reforms. With a broad consensus, the date for independence was set on June 30, 1960.
The idea for a round table conference was first formulated in 1959 by the Congolese Labour Party (PTC, French: Parti Travailliste Congolais). It gathered support from the Bakongo Alliance (ABAKO) and the Belgian Socialist Party (PSB). The idea of a bilateral conference aimed at organizing the independence of the Belgian colony was in turn adopted by the minister of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, August de Schryver, who was also the leader of the Christian Social Party, Belgium's largest political party at the time. Several factors contributed to this idea taking shape, including:
Grassroots activism around popular figures like Joseph Kasa-Vubu and Patrice Lumumba
The riots of January 1959 in Léopoldville, the worsening security climate and the rising feeling of insecurity among colonial settlers.
The general sentiment of the inevitable and irreversible process of the decolonization of Africa.
Deteriorating local economy (the public debt of the colony rose from 4 to 46 billion Belgian franc between 1949 and 1960).
The failure of King Baudouin's second visit to Belgian Congo in December 1959 which didn't allow the political tensions to be reduced.
The creation of a large scale Belgian-Congolese dialogue was also compatible with a speech from Belgian King Baudouin broadcast on January 13, 1959. Where he expressed the desire to "lead the Congolese populations, without harmful procrastination, but also without thoughtless haste, toward independence, in prosperity, and in peace."
On January 3, 1960 the Belgian government announced it was convening a round table conference with the goal of helping the Congolese transition from colonial rule to independence.
A number of traditional chiefs (chefs coutumiers) were invited to the Round Table Conference to reduce the proportion of key independence figures in the delegations. The complete list of the Congolese delegates and their Belgian advisers to the first conference:
Alliance des Bakongo (ABAKO)
Effective members - Edmond Nzeza-Nlandu, Joseph Kasa-Vubu, Daniel Kanza
Deputy members - Philibert Luyeye, Simon Nzeza, Emmanuel Kini, Joseph Yumbu
Advisors - J. van Bilsen
Alliance des Bayanzi (ABAZI)
Effective members - Gaston Midu
Deputy members - Wenceslas Mbueny
Alliance Rural Progressiste (ARP)
Effective members - Gervais Bahizi, Sangara
Deputy members - Téodomie Nzamu Kwereka, Albert Kalinda
Advisers - Coulet
Association Générale des Baluba de Katanga (BALUBAKAT)
Effective members - Jason Sendwe
Deputy members - Rémy Mwamba
Advisers - A. Doucy
Association des Ressortisants du Haut-Congo (ASSORECO)
Effective members - Jean Bolikango
Deputy members - Armand Bobanga
Advisers - V. Promontorio
Centre du Regroupement Africain (CEREA)
Effective members - Anicet Kashamura (later replaced by Jean Weregemere)
Deputy members - Marcel Bisukiro
Advisers - J. Terfve
Confédération des associations tribales du Katanga (CONAKAT)
Effective members - Moïse Tshombe, Jean-Baptiste Kibwe
Deputy members - Charles Mutaka, François Kasongo (later transferred and replaced by Prosper Muyumba)
Advisers - Humble
Federation Generale du Congo (FGC)
Effective members - Henri Kasongo
Advisers - Lacourt
Mouvement National Congolais-Kalonji (MNC-K)
Effective members - Albert Kalonji, Joseph Iléo (until 15 January), Paul Ngandu (from 16 January)
Deputy members - Joseph Ngalula, Muamba, Pierre Missa-Kabu
Advisers - Jules Gérard-Libois
Mouvement National Congolais-Lumumba (MNC-L)
Effective members - Patrice Lumumba, Joseph Kasongo, Jean-Marie Yumba
Deputy members - Sebastien Ikolo, Finant, Bruno Bukasa
Advisers - E. Loliki
Parti National du Progrès (PNP)
Effective members - Jérome Anany, Jean-Marie Kititwa, Alphonse Ilunga, Albert Delvaux, Antoine Lopes, André Anekonzapa, Paul Bolya, André-Marie Edindali, Ferdinand Essendja, Léopold Likinda, Sylvestre Mudingayl
Deputy members - Dominique Mubanga, Joseph Kulumba, Lius Witshima, Michel Atoka, Pierre Mombele, Ignoce Kanga, Revocato Kapepa, Gilbert Pongo, Romain Telu, Victor Kande, Ekwe
Advisers - H. Simonet, Lebrun, Cambier
Parti du Peuple (PP)
Effective members - Alphone Nguvulu
Deputy members - Antoine Mandungu
Advisers - F. Périn
Parti Solidaire Africain (PSA)
Effective members - Cléophas Kamitatu, Sylvain Kama, Justin Matiti
Deputy members - Valentin Lubuma, Christian Mafuta
Advisers - Spitaels-Evrard
Union Congolaise
Effective members - Gabriel Kitenge
Deputy members - Joseph Shango
Advisers - A. Rubens
Équateur Province
Effective members - Jean-Médard Ilumbe, Eugéne N'Djoku, Innocent Abamba
Deputy members - Engulu, Mwanga, Mosamba
Kasaï Province
Effective members - Jonas Mangolo, Emeri Penesenga
Deputy members - Michel Ohanga, Louis Tshimbambe, Wafwana, Katomba (from 13 February)
Katanga Province
Effective members - Paul Bako Ditende, Antoine Mwenda-Munongo
Deputy members - Léon Ilunga, Kasembe, Kabembe
Kivu Province
Effective members - Henry Simba, Omari Penemizenga
Deputy members - Joseph Tshomba
Léopoldville Province
Effective members - Michel Mputela
Deputy members - Henri Ilenda
Orientale Province
Effective members - François Kupa, Sabiti Mabe
Deputy members - Busimbo Yaele, Joachim Bateko, Joseph Lionga
J. Maisin
G. Mineur
Edouard Bayona, a Congolese attaché to the Belgian government, was appointed to attend the conference. Journalist and future Congolese dictator Joseph-Désiré Mobutu attended the conference as Patrice Lumumba's secretary.
On the Belgian side, among others, the following people were present:
Gaston Eyskens, Prime Minister
Albert Lilar, vice Prime Minister
August de Schryver, Minister of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi ;
Arthur Gilson, Defence Minister
Pierre Harmel, Minister for the Civil Service
Étienne Davignon, future vice-president of the European Commission, was also at the conference attached to the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On the eve of the conference the Congolese delegations held a series of meetings. Concern was expressed by Congolese students in Brussels that disunity in the Congo would prevent the delegates from taking advantage of Belgium's tenuous position. As a result almost all of the delegations resolved to from a "Common Front" (Front Commun) to present their demands at the conference. That evening the Common Front released its first statement. It was demanded that the negotiations be more than consultative; all decisions reached should be made binding on the Belgian government. It also required that the Congo should immediately be granted independence. De Schryver and the Belgian delegation were shocked by the joint statement, having underestimated the full extent of Congolese discontent and their willingness to cooperate across party lines.
The Round Table Conference was opened on January 20 with a speech by Belgian Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens.
At the end of the conference, the following notable resolutions were adopted:
The declaration of independence of the Congo on June 30, 1960.
The principles of the Congolese constitution, voted by the Belgian parliament in May 1960.
The structural organization of the state and the separation of powers.
