CONGO 1885–1968 begins with Leopold II’s Congo Free State and follows the Belgian colonial period to independence in 1960. Within a few weeks, the apparent order collapses: army mutiny, Katanga, Lumumba, the United Nations, rebellions, mercenaries and foreign intelligence services become entangled. In 1965, Mobutu takes power.
The book is based on historical sources, but deliberately told as a story. Joseph Mavungu and a small number of other fictional characters give the events a human perspective. Historical figures, dates and events remain grounded in the documented record.
It is not only about the history of one country. It also asks a larger question: what happens when a flag is changed in a matter of minutes, but a state has barely been prepared for its independence?
Image note: The images shown are AI-generated atmospheric illustrations and are not original historical photographs.
KONGO 1885–1968