During Belgium’s colonial rule in Congo, mixed-race children, referred to as métis, were considered a threat to the racial supremacy underpinning the colonial system. In an effort to prevent their connection with their Congolese roots, colonial authorities kidnapped these children and altered their identities, claims the lawyer representing a group of affected women.
Congo remained under Belgian control from 1908 until it achieved independence in 1960.
In 2019, the Belgian government issued a formal apology for the abduction of métis children during colonial times. “On behalf of the federal government, I extend my apologies to the métis of the Belgian colonial era and their families for the injustices and suffering they endured,” said then-Prime Minister Charles Michel in an address to parliament.
However, for some, a mere apology fell short. In 2020, a group of women who had been forcibly separated from their families filed a lawsuit against the Belgian government, accusing it of crimes against humanity.
That same year, Belgium’s King Philippe broke his silence on the nation’s colonial legacy, issuing a statement expressing his “profound regret” for the pain inflicted during the colonial era. This acknowledgment came as Belgium began grappling with its colonial history, partly in response to the global Black Lives Matter movement.
The protests also sparked heated debates about how to handle Belgium’s colonial monuments. Brussels, for instance, is still home to numerous statues commemorating King Leopold II, the monarch who infamously ruled the Congo as his personal fiefdom. Leopold II’s regime is estimated to have caused the deaths of up to 10 million Congolese people, leaving a dark and indelible mark on history.
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