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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 August 2020
This article examines the Baluba Association of Katanga (Balubakat) from its creation in 1957 until its dissolution in 1964, as well as its leader Jason Sendwe. Despite not receiving much scholarly coverage hitherto, Sendwe and the Balubakat played an important part in undermining the Katangese secession, along with the UN and the Congolese National Army (ANC). This article's focus on the Balubakat and Sendwe challenges the traditional historical focus on top parties, such as the National Congolese Movement (MNC), and their leaders, such as Patrice Lumumba, when examining Congolese decolonisation. Sendwe's pragmatic, non-aligned stance helped the Balubakat maintain the support of powerful institutions, such as the Great Lakes Railway Company (CFL). His ability to hold the Balubakat together also derived from its members’ common wish to oppose the Katangese secession. Yet the efficacy of Sendwe's leadership was best demonstrated after the party disbanded following his assassination.
I would like to thank Yolanda Covington-Ward, Guy Vanthemsche, Hein Vanhee, Tom Morren, David Maxwell, Robert Saunders, all who attended my paper at the Congo Research Network (CRN) conference in Cambridge in 2015, and the anonymous reviewers and editors of this journal for their comments, inspiration, and help in preparing this article. I would also like to thank the British Academy for their Small Grant (SG132242) that furthered the research for this article. All mistakes and views expressed in this paper remain mine, though. E-mail: [email protected].
1 This list of the books about these three leaders is far from extensive but gives some impression of the volume of literature about them: Zelig, L., Lumumba: Africa's Lost Leader (London, 2015)Google Scholar; Gerard, E. and Kuklick, B., Death in the Congo: Murdering Patrice Lumumba (Cambridge, MA, 2015)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; De Witte, L., The Assassination of Lumumba, trans. Wright, A. and Fenby, R. (London, 2001)Google Scholar; Ikambana, J.-L. P., Mobutu's Totalitarian Political System: An Afro-Centric Analysis (London, 2006)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Colvin, I., The Rise and Fall of Moïse Tshombe (London, 1968)Google Scholar.
2 The term ‘Balubakat’ has also come to be used as a shorthand term to describe the Luba-Katanga ethnic group. This article will use the term solely in reference to the political party and will use the term Luba-Katanga in reference to the ethnic identification of the people concerned.
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77 Ibid.
78 MRAC HA.02.01-01.0021, ‘Note pour M. Tricot et Marissiaux’, Léopoldville, 16 Nov. 1961, 1. My emphasis.
79 MRAC HA.02.01-01.0018, Direction Générale, L'Administration Centrale, Bruxelles, ‘Evènements de la semaine’, Albertville, 4 Nov. 1960, 2. The CFL directorship suggested that Sendwe often spoke in front of several thousand followers. This may be a distortion or misconception but video evidence I have seen has tended to suggest he did have a large following.
80 MRAC HA.02.01-01.0018, Direction Générale, L'Administration Centrale, Bruxelles, ‘Evènements de la semaine’, Albertville, 21 Nov. 1960, 1.
81 MRAC HA.02.01-01.0018, Direction Générale, L'Administration Centrale, Bruxelles, ‘Evènements de la semaine’, Albertville, 8 Nov. 1960, 2.
82 MRAC HA.02.01-01.0019, ‘Relation de l'entrevue Bruart–Sendwe Jason á Kabalo, le vendredi 10 février 1961’, 1.
83 Ibid.
84 Ibid.
85 MRAC HA.02.01-01.0019, Direction Générale, L'Administration Centrale, Bruxelles, ‘Evènements de la semaine,’ Albertville, 17 Feb. 1961, 5.
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