A Polish-Belgian “War” for Congo (1960–1963)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/Polska.2019.04Keywords
Cold War in Congo, Polish-Belgian relations, United Nations Operation in Congo, Patrice Lumumba, decolonisation, Soviet Union, Polish People’s RepublicAbstract
The article presents the Polish-Belgian relations in 1960–1963 being part of the Cold War struggle between the two blocks. The contacts between Warsaw and Brussels in this period were definitely influenced by the largest post-war conflict on the African continent, which was the “war for Congo” which broke out after the fall of the Belgian colonial yoke and the declaration of formal independence (30 June 1960) by this country. Political support provided by the USSR and other countries of the communist block (including the Polish People’s Republic) for nationalist Patrice Lumumba, and after his death for his communist henchmen who were supplied with weapons smuggled through the camp countries, not only intensified the civil war in Congo, but also contributed to deterioration of international relations. Its effect was, among others, the deadlock in Polish-Belgian relations and the practical freezing of not only political but economic and cultural contacts lasting until 1963.
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