In his speech to the parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Belgian King Philippe reiterated that he “deeply regrets” his country’s colonial past, but did not offer a formal apology.
King Philippe, who made his first official visit to Congo 10 years after his father, King Albert II, was welcomed with a state ceremony by President Félix Tshisekedi.
The King of Belgium addressed the people in the Parliament of the Congo on Wednesday afternoon.
In his speech, King Philippe repeated the views in the letter he wrote to Congo President Tshisekedi 2 years ago on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of independence. The King of Belgium repeated the expression “deep regret” instead of an official apology for the massacres in which millions of people were killed during the colonization process.
“On the occasion of my first trip to Congo, I would like to renew my deepest regret for the wounds of the past, in the presence of the people of Congo and all those who still suffer today,” said King Philippe.
In his speech, King Philippe pointed out the suffering experienced during the Belgian colonization and said:
“Although many Belgians at that time in the Congo did their best and sincerely loved the country and its inhabitants, the colonial regime as such was based on exploitation and domination. This regime was based on an unjust relationship of inequality in itself. It was characterized by paternalism, discrimination and racism. And this led to injustice and humiliation.”
Saying that they now want to open a new page in Belgium-Congo relations, King Philippe said, “62 years ago, the two countries opened a fundamental page in their joint history. Today, you want to write a new chapter in our relations and look to the future. Let’s write this new chapter together. Without forgetting the past, by reckoning with it. In this way, we can pass on a deep and serene memory of our common history to the new generation,” he said.
Emphasizing that Congo has a lot to offer to the African continent and the whole world, the King of Belgium said that he hopes the two countries will join forces in the future.