As this book shows, the People of the Congo have suffered throughout the past century from a particularly brutal experience of colonial rule, and a series of post-independence political conflicts. But as this insightful political history of the Congolese democratic movement of the 20th century decisively makes clear, its people have not taken these multiple oppressions lying down. Instead, they have struggled both to establish democratic institutions at home and to free themselves from exploitations abroad.
Customer Reviews:
History written by a CongoleseJanuary 18, 2005 Hans Declercq(Brussels) 8 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book is great because it offers the best information you can find on the internal resistance against colonial rule, on the mobutu dictatorship and on the Conference Nationale Souveraine (beginning of the 90s). The very extensive descriptions of the changing classes in the Congolese society are somewhat boring. And the book poorly describes what happens after 97. Ntalaja's english is easy reading for non-native speakers like myself ;-)
