King Leopold II and the Congo Free State

A downward spiral

Collecting Rubber in Forest of Lusambo (Lualaba-Kassai) – p. 280

A situation that is getting worse very quickly, and which is difficult to control

Cambridge Dictionary

Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery

Sir Mo Farah

Slavery

Slave trade

Cobalt-mining

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The heading story of the European king who killed Millions of Africans. (see reasons)

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28 mei 2023

Souvenirs du Roi bâtisseur – Documentaire sur le Roi Léopold II


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In première gegaan op 15 mei 2021
 
Léopold II, roi aux ambitions immenses, bâtisseur d’Empire, bâtisseur de villes, d’ensembles monumentaux, de grandes avenues… Ce document sur le deuxième roi des Belges revisite l’oeuvre urbaine et architecturale d’un règne de près de 45 ans.

This Man Killed 10 Million Africans in a few years | The Shocking Story of King Leopold II

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In première gegaan op 20 mrt 2023

In this video, take a look at King Leopold II, the man who killed 10 Million Africans in 23 years.

The actions of King Leopold II of Belgium in the Congo Free State during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were simply horrific. Under the guise of “civilizing” and “Christianizing” the people of Congo, Leopold created a brutal regime of forced labor, mutilation, and murder that resulted in the deaths of millions of Congolese. We examine the details of the atrocities committed by Leopold’s agents, the role of Western powers in supporting his regime, and the eventual exposure of the atrocities to the world. This is a disturbing but important story of colonialism, greed, and the fight for justice.

What’s Happening in Congo ?? – The Biggest Coverup Exposed!


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20 nov 2023

Today, we embark on an exploration of one of the most somber episodes of European colonialism. It is a tale marked by exploitation, avarice, and inhumanity, which continues to cast a long shadow over our world. Our focus turns to the infamous King Leopold the Second of Belgium and his ruthless dominion over the Congo Free State.

While some may regard history as dry and uninteresting, the narrative we are about to unfold is far from mundane. It is a narrative of a monarch consumed by an insatiable thirst for dominion and riches, viewing an entire nation merely as a resource to be plundered.

Under Leopold’s rule, the Congo Free State transformed into a veritable hell on Earth for its indigenous inhabitants. Millions of Congolese were coerced into labor camps, subjected to brutal working conditions, and those who resisted or failed to meet the king’s demands suffered death or mutilation. The exploitation was so severe that the Congo’s population dwindled from 20 million to 10 million during Leopold’s reign.

Shockingly, this dark chapter in history remains relatively unknown. King Leopold the Second and the atrocities he committed in the Congo remain obscure to many. Yet, as we shall explore today, the repercussions of his reign still resonate in the Congo and reverberate worldwide. This is a narrative that demands attention. So, without further delay, let us delve into the horrors of King Leopold’s dominion over the Congo Free State. And before we proceed, please remember to show your support by liking and subscribing for more content like this.

To comprehend the horrors that unfolded in the Congo under King Leopold the Second, we must begin at the outset of his reign. In the late 19th century, European powers engaged in a frenzied rush to colonize Africa, exploiting its resources and people for their own economic benefit. King Leopold the Second of Belgium, a cunning and ambitious ruler, perceived this as an opportunity to amass personal wealth and power.

As a shrewd monarch, he recognized the imperative for Belgium to establish a colony akin to other European powers. Moreover, he was an unscrupulous businessman who saw the potential for colossal riches to be derived from the exploitation of Africa’s bountiful natural resources.

King Leopold II of Belgium is notorious for his brutal exploitation and colonization of the Congo Free State, a territory that he claimed as his personal property in 1885 and ruled as a private fiefdom until 1908. Here are some of the atrocities he committed:

1 Forced labour: King Leopold II forced millions of Congolese people into forced labour to extract rubber, ivory, and other valuable resources from the Congo. Workers who failed to meet their quotas were punished, sometimes brutally, with mutilation or death.

2 Massacres and mutilations: Leopold’s regime was responsible for countless massacres and acts of violence against the Congolese people, including the infamous “hand-chopping” campaign, in which Congolese workers had their hands cut off as punishment for failing to meet rubber collection quotas.

3 Forced conscription: Leopold’s regime also forcibly conscripted many Congolese people into military service, forcing them to fight against other African tribes or European colonial powers.

4 Starvation and disease: Under Leopold’s rule, the Congolese people suffered from extreme poverty, malnutrition, and disease. Many died from starvation or diseases like smallpox, which spread rapidly due to poor living conditions and lack of medical care.

5 Cultural destruction: Leopold’s regime also sought to destroy the cultural traditions of the Congolese people, banning traditional practices and forcing them to adopt European customs and religions.

6 Slavery: Leopold’s regime also facilitated and profited from the slave trade, buying and selling Congolese people as slaves to European and American buyers.

The atrocities committed by Leopold II in the Congo Free State were eventually exposed by journalists, activists, and missionaries, leading to international condemnation and pressure for reform.

In 1908, the Belgian government took over the colony from Leopold II, but the effects of his brutal rule continue to be felt in the region today.

MOST BRUTAL: King Leopold II – Congo Massacre – Forgotten History

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As a result of the agreement from 1885 to 1908 the Congo Free State (in name only) and today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo was considered a colony of Belgium, but in reality, it was not. The Congo was the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium, who wanted to have a strong global monopoly on the rubber trade. Hosted by Colin Heaton. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production.

Untold Story Of King Leopold Who Killed Over 10 Million Africans | Black Culture

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In première gegaan op 25 mei 2023

Today, we’re going to delve into one of the darkest chapters of European colonialism, a story of exploitation, greed, and inhumanity that is still haunting us today. Today, we’re going to talk about the notorious King Leopold the Second of Belgium and his brutal rule over the Congo Free State.
Now, some of you may think that history can be dry and boring, but the story we’re about to unfold is anything but that. This is a story of a king who was driven by his insatiable lust for power and wealth, and who saw an entire nation as nothing more than a resource to be exploited.

Under Leopold’s rule, the Congo Free State became a hell on earth for the local population. Millions of Congolese people were forced into labor camps and subjected to brutal working conditions, while others were killed or maimed for resisting or failing to meet the king’s quotas. The exploitation was so severe that the population of the Congo fell from 20 million to 10 million during Leopold’s reign.

And yet, this dark chapter in history is still not widely known. Many people have never even heard of King Leopold the Second, let alone the atrocities he committed in the Congo. But as we’ll see today, the legacy of his reign is still felt in the Congo and throughout the world. It is a story that deserves to be told. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the horrors of King Leopold’s rule over the Congo Free State. Before that, do not forget to like and hit the subscribe button to catch more content like this.

To understand the horrors that took place in Congo under King Leopold the Second, we need to start at the beginning of his reign.
In the late 19th century, European powers were on a scramble to colonize Africa, exploiting its resources and people for their own economic gain. King Leopold the Second of Belgium, a cunning and ambitious ruler, saw this as an opportunity to build his own personal wealth and power
Being a shrewd monarch, he saw the need for Belgium to have a colony like other European powers. He was also a ruthless businessman who saw the potential for enormous wealth to be gained from the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources.

Welcome to Black Journals, a channel dedicated to exploring and sharing the rich history, literature, and culture of the African American community. Our channel takes a deep dive into the pages of black journals and uncovers the hidden stories and untold truths of the black experience.
From the harrowing legacy of the Atlantic slave trade to the powerful impact of black literature and the black narrative, we shine a light on the unwritten history and the stories that have been overlooked or suppressed. We celebrate the black legacy and the resilience of the African diaspora, as well as the activism and political history of African Americans in their ongoing fight for justice and equality.
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The Diabolical Things King Leopold II Did During His Reign

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25 jul 2023

King Leopold II, Congo Free State, King Leopold Kongo

What if you were enslaved by a foreign ruler who claimed to be your benefactor, but who actually punished and killed you and your people? This was the nightmare of millions of Congolese under King Leopold II of Belgium.

Welcome to History on Fleek. today we will explore the diabolical deeds of King Leopold II of Belgium and his infamous rule over his own private colony in Central Africa called the Congo Free State.


In today’s video we look at The Diabolical Things King Leopold II Did During His Reign…Keep watching to see King Leopold II, Congo Free State and King Leopold Kongo.

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On our history channel History On Fleek, we will go through dark history in a history documentary style. Stay tuned for the latest history of ancient civilizations and other weird events in history.

The Diabolical Brutality Of King Leopold II (Warning* Mature Audiences Only)

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31 jul 2023

The official title of the Belgian kings is “King of the Belgians.” In Belgium, there is a difference between the titles “King of Belgium” and the “King of the Belgians.” The first suggests that the monarch is the owner of all of the country’s land. The second title implies that he simply “reigns” over the Belgians in the constitutional monarchy that’s existed in the country since it separated from Holland and the “United Kingdom of the Netherlands” in 1830. The Belgian king, and its been a king, not a queen, since independence, was never an absolute monarch, though in the 19th century, the king had considerable more power and influence than King Philippe does today.

The problem for Leopold was that he really wanted to be that king – you know, the “your wish is my command, Sire” type king, and he could not be that kind of a king to the Belgians, who had gone through much debate, internal strife and some bloodshed to prevent that kind of absolute monarchy in Belgium.

Much of Western Europe was going through the “Second Age of Imperialism” in the latter part of the 19th century. Great Britain’s empire spanned the globe – the largest empire the world has ever seen. The French controlled a great deal of Africa and parts of the Middle East. Italy had a small African empire. Holland had extensive colonies in the Pacific, most notably today’s Indonesia. Even declining Spain and Portugal had colonies in Africa and the Far East in the late 1800s.

Some in Belgium call Leopold II “The Great Builder,” for in Belgium, he sponsored and promoted the building of new roads, public buildings and a variety of public works, many of which are still in existence. Many in the country believe that that was his purpose in attempting to gain the Congo River area for Belgium – to improve and modernize the vast forested territory. He also wanted to spread the Christian faith and to bring Western culture and technology to the area.

A Glimpse of Hell, Episode 5: King Leopold II

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24 okt. 2021

King Leopold II of Belgium (1835-1909) outdid Hitler himself in causing atrocities. Not only did he cause millions more deaths than the Holocaust, but every drop of blood spilled on Leopold’s behalf was done in a country that he himself never set foot. In the lead up to the Scramble for Africa Leopold organised a core group of global powers to enable him to establish the Congo Free State. The State was branded as a selfless mission for establishing civilisation, Christianity and freedom of global trade in central Africa. The reality was that Leopold had hoodwinked the international community into enabling him absolute power over a resource rich land, particularly of ivory and rubber, that was not even Belgium’s, but Leopold’s own private colony. The king created a chain of command that forced the native community to unsustainably exploit its resources through a system of executions, ransom and maiming. Notoriously the guards were required to provide a hand as proof of a kill for every bullet used. All wastage of cartridges was punished and consequently many hands were severed from living persons.

1 The Atrocities of The Congo Free State

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8 aug. 2021

The Congo Free State was the private property of King Leopold the Second. It was a colony in the Congo Basin that existed for only 23 years. His dominion over the 30 Million Congolese people resulted in the deaths of millions in pursuit of profit. Mutilations, slavery and disease were rampant as the worst of European Colonialism.
 
In this video we will discuss the founding of the Congo Free State and the motivations of one of history’s most despicable individuals and cover the litany of crimes committed in the goal of making wealth for a Belgian King who never set foot in the country he brutalised.
 
 

Belgian king regrets colonial ‘humiliation’ in landmark DR Congo trip • FRANCE 24 English

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8 jun. 2022

King Philippe of Belgium, in a historic visit to DR Congo, said on Wednesday that his country’s rule over the vast central African country had inflicted pain and humiliation through a mixture of “paternalism, discrimination and racism.” FRANCE 24’s Clément Bonnerot reports from Kinshasa, DR Congo
 
B.A.B
I hope they truly compensate the past. “Words” are not enough.
b blacker
An European apology, for past or present attrocities, will not benefit any African person….
Sunboy
Nothing will change, just empty words Europe should compensate Africa for Everything they have done to destroy Africa.
SangYoung Choi
How many mine Belgium have in DR Congo now? Nickel, Coltan, Gold, Diamond, Cobalt, Mn etc? Belgium has very nice Diamond mine in S.Africa. CCP mine company with corrupted DR Congo politician is collecting more & more mine nowdays. Many problems occurs from brutal CCP miner in DR Congo. Is there some conflict between Belgium miner & CCP miner there? Neo Collonianism is progressing by CCP through One Belt One Road Propaganda.
Nehemia Gella
Pay reparation empty word don’t change a thing.
under tam's subjective
It’s A Beginning!…💖 Thank U…
Edward Webb
LP reacted d ryt way, she is Sogrobartigg.Monster need of over drama, or over consider ations. She don’t deserve *considerationsq. Lp പറഞ്ഞ പോലെ,, ജീവിതം തുടങ്ങിയല്ലേ ഉള്ളു, പഠിക്കട്ടെ.
Issa Eways
All European occupying powers and not only Belgium should compensate those countries whom they occupied. This also includes France, Britain, Italy and the rest. Compensation should include the repatriation of Gold, artifacts and all other valuable assets that have been stolen. That in addition to monetary compensation for all the people they killed in Africa and the Middle East.
Cole C
🤮🤮🤮
 
Lea van den bosch
The people of DRC had 60 years time to do it better than the cruel Belgians, but they have been worse towards their own people
ryan chris
Came again to steal
But nothing says you have changed. Today, you host EU.
Yuvaraj Gopal
Very oppretunistic indeed

Confronting colonial past: What’s at stake in Belgian king’s visit to DR Congo? • FRANCE 24

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7 jun. 2022

Imperialism is a word on a lot of lips these days. Ukrainians use it to denounce an invasion that they say recalls the days of Czarist Russia, while Vladimir Putin uses it to rally support against the US and its allies. In the spotlight over the next week is one of the darkest examples of imperialism as the King of Belgium kicks off a tour of DR Congo.
 
 
 

2 Koning leopold II documentaires canvas en ikon

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27 dec. 2014

koning leopold II documentaires canvas en ikon
 
 
 

3 Documentaire over Belgisch Congo (Nederlands Gesproken)

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17 nov. 2020

Indrukwekkende Documentaire film over Belgisch Congo, mijn operaties, Leopoldstad enzv. (Nederlands Gesproken)

4 Leopold II of Belgium: The Biggest Coverup In European History


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26 sep. 2018

Visit our companion website for more: http://biographics.org
This video is sponsored by Squarespace! Credits: 
Host – Simon Whistler 
Author – Shannon Quinn 
Producer – Jack Cole 
Executive Producer – Shell Harris
 
ESSENTIAL CONTENT
MUST BE LISTEN TO
 

Unbelievable that it happened

5 Belgium’s King Expresses ‘Deepest Regrets’ Over Colonial Atrocities in the Congo

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30 jun. 2020

For the first time in Belgium’s history, a reigning king expressed regret Tuesday for the atrocities carried out by the former colonial power when it ruled over what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a letter to D.R.C. President Felix Tshisekedi published on the 60th anniversary of the African country’s independence, Belgium’s King Philippe conveyed his “deepest regrets” for the “acts of violence and cruelty” and the “suffering and humiliation” inflicted on Belgian Congo.

“To further strengthen our ties and develop an even more fruitful friendship, we must be able to talk to each other about our long common history in all truth and serenity,” Philippe wrote.

Philippe’s letter was sent amid growing demands that Belgium reassess its colonial past. In the wake of the protests against racial inequality triggered by the death of George Floyd in the United States, several statues of King Leopold II, who is blamed for the deaths of millions of Africans during Belgium’s colonial rule, have been vandalized, while a petition called for the country to remove all statues of the former king.

A bust of Leopold II is expected to be taken down from display later Tuesday in the city of Ghent following a decision from local authorities. Earlier this month, regional authorities also promised history course reforms to better explain the true character of colonialism.

“Our history is made of common achievements, but has also known painful episodes. At the time of the independent State of the Congo, acts of violence and cruelty were committed that still weigh on our collective memory,” Philippe wrote, referring to the period when the country was privately ruled by Leopold II from 1885 to 1908.

“The colonial period that followed also caused suffering and humiliation,” Philippe acknowledged.

Leopold ruled Congo as a fiefdom, forcing many of its people into slavery to extract resources for his personal profit. His early rule, starting in 1885, was famous for its brutality, which some experts say left as many as 10 million dead.

After his ownership of Congo ended in 1908, he handed the central African country over to the Belgian state, which continued to rule over an area 75 times its size until the nation became independent in 1960.

“I want to express my most deepest regrets for these wounds of the past, the pain of which is today revived by discrimination that is all too present in our societies,” the king wrote, insisting that he is determined to keep “fighting all forms of racism.”

Philippe also congratulated President Tshisekedi on the 60th anniversary of independence, ruing the fact that he was not able to attend celebrations to which he had been invited “given current circumstances” related to the coronavirus crisis

6 Belgium king expresses ‘deepest regrets’ over Africa colonialism

30 jun. 2020

The king of Belgium has for the first time in the country’s history expressed what he calls his “deepest regrets” for colonial rule in Africa. King Philippe acknowledged that acts of violence and cruelty were committed – and the wounds are still raw – in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His message was sent to President Felix Tshisekedi on the 60th anniversary of the DRC’s independence. Benedicte Ndjoko, an historian and a Congolese political activist, talks to Al Jazeera.

7 Congo: A journey to the heart of Africa – Full documentary – BBC Africa

20 jan. 2019

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a vast, mineral rich country the size of Western Europe.
 
Alastair Leithead takes an epic journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the far reaches of the Congo river to explore how history has shaped the Congo of today and uncover the lesser told stories of this beautiful, if troubled country.
 
In the largest rainforest outside of the Amazon he comes face to face with its gorillas and hunts with pygmies, he travels into the heart of the Ebola outbreak with United Nations peacekeepers, and explores the cobalt mines which will drive our electric cars of the future.

8 Blood, Sweat, and Batteries: Inside Congo’s Cobalt Mines I Fortune

24 aug. 2018

Africa’s copperbelt contains two-thirds of the entire world’s cobalt, a mineral required for the production of cell phones, laptops, and most importantly, electric automobiles. Produced with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
 
 
 

9 Belgian Congo

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10 “Object of Plunder: The Congo through the Centuries” by Adam Hochschild

15 apr. 2014

Lecture by Adam Hochschild, University of California, Berkeley March 16, 2014 Getty Center
 
Journalist, historian, and author of “King Leopold’s Ghost” Adam Hochschild (UC Berkeley) traces the history of the Congo as it emerges from photographs, cartoons, posters, and documents. He details the 19th-century colonial exploration and exploitation of the Congo under the infamous King Leopold II of Belgium and discusses the repercussions of his regime.
 
For more about this event, visit the Getty Research Institute’s website: http://www.getty.edu/research/exhibit…
 
This lecture series complements the exhibition “Connecting Seas: A Visual History of Discoveries and Encounters,” on view in the Getty Research Institute galleries from December 7, 2013, to April 13, 2014. http://www.getty.edu/research/exhibit…

11 Moeten standbeelden van Leopold II weg? | Terzake

 
De wereldwijde betogingen tegen racisme rijten ook in België oude wonden open, die van het kolonialisme en de rol van Leopold II. Hij maakte van Congo zijn privébezit en installeerde een schrikbewind. Betogers vragen om standbeelden van de koning te verwijderen uit het straatbeeld. Een reportage van Stijn Vercruysse voor Terzake (8 juni 2020)

12 Le génocide de Léopold II, roi des Belges, au Congo

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16 feb 2015

Suivez cet élément sur www.congoyalobi.net

 

Le génocidaire roi des Belges Léopold II

17 dec. 2015

Nzwamba
 
Uhem Mesut, le renouvellement des naissances: http://uhem-mesut.com/

13 CHRONIQUES ET HISTOIRES DU CONGO BELGE

CHRONIQUES ET HISTOIRES DU CONGO BELGE

14 Inside the murky business of cobalt mining in DR Congo

20 feb. 2018

Cobalt is an essential component of batteries for smartphones and electric cars. Around 60% of it comes from just one country, DR Congo – and most of the metal is exported to China. But there are ethical concerns: Amnesty International says children and adults are mining cobalt in extremely hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, around a quarter of the cobalt extracted in DR Congo is sold through the black market. This report is from our France 2 colleagues, with Erin Ogunkeye. A programme prepared by Florence Viala, Gaëlle Essoo and Claire Pryde. http://www.france24.com/en/reportages 
 
Visit our website: http://www.france24.com

15 Whose Wealth? Cobalt from Congo

1 mei 2016

This short documentary shows the human rights violations and environmental pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo as a result of unresponsible cobalt mining.
 
Cobalt is used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for smart phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. To know more about this, visit read.somo.nl/story/cobalt-blues/ and goodelectronics.org/@@search?SearchableText=cobalt

16 The Eastern Congo

10 dec. 2015

This video is part of the Council on Foreign Relations’ InfoGuide Presentation, “The Eastern Congo”: http://www.cfr.org/congo
 
The eastern Congo, the site of the deadliest conflict since World War II, has been ravaged by both foreign invasions and homegrown rebellions. Home to vast mineral and natural resource wealth, the country continues to defy efforts at pacification. As the conflict has morphed from a regional war to a series of tenacious local insurgencies, the civilians caught in the middle have paid the steepest price. And with critical elections approaching, the hard-won gains of an internationally-backed peace process are at risk.

17 The forgotten tragedy in the Congo | Hotspots

11 jun. 2018

The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world’s greatest forgotten tragedies. Large areas of the country have descended into chaos, leaving millions desperate for help as they attempt the flee the fighting.

18 🇨🇩 Is DR Congo still a democracy? | UpFront

2 feb. 2018

On this week’s UpFront, we speak with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Communications about President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down.
 
And in the Arena, we debate the future of Germany’s Angela Merkel as she struggles to form a coalition.

19 Conflicted: The Fight Over Congo’s Minerals

18 nov. 2015

De Democratische Republiek Congo is een van de minst ontwikkelde landen ter wereld.
Toch is het ook de thuisbasis van $ 24tn aan onbenutte minerale reserves. In de oostelijke heuvels van het land worden de “drie Ts” – tantalium, wolfraam en tin – met de hand gedolven en uiteindelijk vinden ze hun weg naar elektronische apparaten over de hele wereld.
Gedurende een decennium hebben belangenbehartigingsgroepen in de VS en Europa technologiebedrijven onder druk gezet om aandacht te schenken aan geweldgerelateerde ‘conflictmineralen’ in hun producten.

Fault Lines reist naar de regio om te horen van mijnwerkers die moeite hebben om de eindjes aan elkaar te knopen en ondervraagt groepen die beweren dat Dodd-Frank 1502 een succes is geweest.

Met bewijs van fraude en smokkel, hoe kunnen enkele van de grootste merken in de technologie-industrie het lof hebben voor het verminderen van geweld en beweren dat ze ‘conflictvrij’ zijn?

Fault Lines onderzoekt of de sterk gepubliceerde campagne om “conflictmineralen” te stoppen het leven van enkele van de meest kwetsbare mensen in Afrika beschermt, of dat het het tegenovergestelde doet.

20 🇨🇩 Congo and the General | People & Power

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6 feb. 2014

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been engulfed in conflict of one sort or another since 1996.

The fighting, between the government and a complex, ever-shifting array of rebel militias, has resulted in the deaths of an estimated six million people and the injury, rape and forced displacement of a great many more.

The international community has tried many times to help the country resolve some of these problems – or at least to mitigate their consequences – with the United Nations maintaining a peacekeeping presence since 1999. Known as MONUSCO (United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo), it is currently the largest and most expensive such mission in the world, comprising 21,000 uniformed personnel from 50 different nations with a budget of just under $1.5bn.

But for all its size and resources, the force has frequently been criticised in the past for being ineffectual, overcautious and for failing to meet its responsibility to protect the country’s vulnerable citizens from harm.

In practice this has meant that while civilians have frequently sought and found sanctuary at UN bases, its troops have rarely been allowed to venture out of those compounds to engage with the armed groups and militias. Indeed, on more than one occasion, the most brutal acts have been carried out even as the peacekeepers looked on. For example, as recently as last July, a militia known as Mai Mai Cheka took over a town called Pinga, decapitated civilians and threw the severed heads at the local UN base, shouting: “Take these, you’re the ones who like meat.”

But at long last things are changing. The UN force now has sharper teeth and new rules of engagement.

In March last year, the UN Security Council sanctioned the creation of a new Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), made up of 3,000 well-equipped combat troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi and gave it a mandate to “neutralise and disarm” the various armed groups.

It was a crucial decision because it meant that for the first time in the organisation’s history, soldiers wearing the UN blue helmet were being allowed to go on the offensive, rather than having to sit helplessly by as atrocities took place. In other words, the peacekeepers could become peacemakers.

As it took shape last summer, this beefed-up force was placed under a new commander, Lieutenant-General Carlos Santos Cruz, an energetic 62-year-old Brazilian. He was tasked with cutting through the inertia that has brought the UN so much criticism in the past.

Half-way through his one year appointment it is already clear the general has wrought some dramatic changes.

The first tangible signs of the new approach came towards the end of last year when the Congolese Army, the FARDC, closely supported by the new UN force, successfully defeated the rebel M23 group, which had humiliated the FARDC a year earlier when they marched largely unopposed into Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu province.

On that occasion the UN did not intervene, even when troops from both sides went on a rampage of looting and raping women and children in the area. But in October and November 2013, under General Santos Cruz’s watchful eye and provided with better training, intelligence, back-up and logistics support, the FARDC was both more effective and (for that moment at least) more disciplined. Crucially, the fact that they were also fighting alongside a potent UN force that was prepared to go on the offensive made a significant difference.

As the general explained later, this new proactive stance is now the UN’s guiding principle in the DR Congo. “We are going to protect the civilians, eliminate and neutralise the threats,” he said. “We are not going to wait for the threat to come here against the civilians.”

To find out what this means in practice, People & Power went behind the scenes with the general and his FIB force as they consolidated their gains, gathered intelligence on rebel activity, and prepared to launch a new joint UN/FARDC offensive.

21 People & Power – Congo’s Tin Idea

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2 mei 2013

South Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is both infamous for its vicious and seemingly never-ending civil conflict and envied for its vast natural resources.
These abundant minerals– from tin to coltan – are in huge international demand; vital to the economies of the developed world as key components in high-tech electronic consumer goods, from laptops and tablets to smart phones and flat screen TVs.
But this demand has also helped make these strategically important metals a key driver of the endemic conflict in this part of the country – violence that has led to the deaths of nearly six million in over a decade.

At Al Jazeera English, we focus on people and events that affect people’s lives. We bring topics to light that often go under-reported, listening to all sides of the story and giving a ‘voice to the voiceless.’
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22 Inside Story – Fuelling the DR Congo conflict

18 okt. 2012
 
A leaked UN report has implicated Rwanda and Uganda in the latest rebellion in eastern DR Congo. Are the armed rebels merely proxies in a regional battle for resources? Guests: Olivier Nduhunigirehe, Fred Robarts, Kris Berwouts.

23 Inside Story Americas – The US role in the DR Congo conflict

29 nov. 2012

Rebels in the eastern DR Congo say they have begun withdrawing from territory they captured from government troops. About 500,000 people have fled their homes during seven months of fighting. The violence has been particularly disturbing, coming less than ten years after the end of the Congo War that killed some 5.4 million people. The US dispatched a state department official to the region but has been careful to spare its allies anything beyond symbolic sanction, even after a UN report concluded that Rwanda and Uganda are backing the M23 rebels.

At Al Jazeera English, we focus on people and events that affect people’s lives. We bring topics to light that often go under-reported, listening to all sides of the story and giving a ‘voice to the voiceless.’
Reaching more than 270 million households in over 140 countries across the globe, our viewers trust Al Jazeera English to keep them informed, inspired, and entertained.
Our impartial, fact-based reporting wins worldwide praise and respect. It is our unique brand of journalism that the world has come to rely on.
We are reshaping global media and constantly working to strengthen our reputation as one of the world’s most respected news and current affairs channels.

24 This is what we die for: Child labour in the DRC cobalt mines

19 jan. 2016

This film documents the hazardous conditions in which artisanal miners, including thousands of children, mine cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It goes on to trace how this cobalt is used to power mobile phones, laptop computers, and other portable electronic devices. Using basic hand tools, miners dig out rocks from tunnels deep underground, and accidents are common. Despite the potentially fatal health effects of prolonged exposure to cobalt, adult and child miners work without even the most basic protective equipment.
 
MUSIC BY NIRAJ CHAG
 
 
 

25 CONGO : 20 ANS DE CONFLITS EXPLIQUÉS

13 nov. 2017

Depuis 20 ans, des conflits embrasent la République Démocratique du Congo, en particulier dans l’Est du pays. Selon les sources, ces conflits auraient fait entre 4 et 6 millions de morts, pire bilan humain depuis la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. Les raisons sont à la fois ethniques, politiques et économiques, ce qui rend la situation très complexe. 
 
Documentaire “Du sang dans nos portables ?” de Patrick Forestier, 2007. A l’époque de la guerre du Kivu. https://youtu.be/c4KTPhNKe9M 
 
Documentaire “Le Conflit au Congo: La Vérité Dévoilée” de congojustice.org, 2011. https://youtu.be/NMtgHzXZnIg
 
—– 
 
Me contacter pour collaboration : mondeencartes@gmail.com 
 
Le Monde en Cartes a pour objectif de traiter de différents sujets par le prisme de la cartographie, qui permet de visualiser une situation donnée.

26 La RD Congo, un pays attractif ?

6 jun. 2016

27 Le coltan, minerais de conflit au Congo

18 feb. 2016

Fungamwaka – une mine à l’est du Congo. Ces hommes travaillent pour que nous puissions téléphoner. Ils extraient du coltan – indispensable à la production de téléphones mobiles. La république démocratique du Congo est le deuxième fournisseur mondial de cette matière première rare.

Fungamwaka est une mine modèle. Elle n’emploie pas d’enfant, l’État contrôle l’extraction et prélève des impôts. Les responsables de la mine travaillent de manière légale. Surtout, aucun groupe armé n’intervient ici qui finance son combat avec le trafic de matières premières.
Car la longue guerre civile financée par la richesse du sol est le plus gros problème du Congo de l’Est.

90% des mines sont exploitées par des mineurs artisanaux dans des terrains frontaliers à peine accessibles – un paradis pour les groupes de rebelles qui exigent du travail forcé des travailleurs et vendent les trésors du sol sur le marché mondial en passant par les pays voisins comme le Ruanda.

Les minerais sont lavés du sable à la pelle, comme aux anciens temps des chercheurs d’or. Dans la capitale de province, l’étain ne rapporte guère plus que 5 euros par kilo, le coltan quand-même 20 euros.

C’est pourquoi Misereor et d’autres organisations européennes de développement demandent une intervention de l’Union Européenne. Ils souhaitent une législation ambitieuse qui coupera les liens entre les ressources naturelles et le conflit. Des entreprises agissant sur le marché européen et vendant des produits contenant des minéraux à conflit devraient être tenues responsables de leur chaîne d’approvisionnement. Elles devraient s’assurer que les droits de l’homme sont respectés tout au long de la chaîne – des matériaux bruts aux produits finis. Et elles devraient en couvrir les coûts. À Fungamwaka, les mineurs paient seuls les contrôles – ils gagnent moins.

www.misereor.org/fr

28 Kongo and the Scramble for Africa – History Of Africa with Zeinab Badawi [Episode 19]

18 okt. 2020

In this episode Zeinab Badawi travels to Angola, DRC and Congo in central Africa to bring the history of the great Kongo Empire. She hears about the critical role played by women in African history such as Queen Nzinga who battled the Portuguese for a quarter of a century in the 1600s and a few decades later Kimpa Vita who was burned alive after her failed resistance. Why were Africans unable to resist the tide of European control? One woman of nearly 100 relates her memory of Belgian rule in the Congo, during what became known as the ‘Scramble for Africa’.
 
IMPORTANT CONTENT

29 Top tech companies sued over child cobalt mining deaths in Congo

17 dec. 2019

A human rights group has filed a lawsuit on behalf of 14 families from the Democratic Republic of Congo, accusing Apple, Google, Dell, Microsoft and Tesla of benefiting from child labor to mine cobalt. CBS News foreign correspondent Debora Patta exposed the brutal conditions in the mines last year. She joins CBSN to explain the latest developments.
 
 
 

30 Inside the world’s ‘last colonial museum’ in Belgium

10 sep. 2018

How should Europe’s painful colonial past be told, and who gets to tell it?
 
(Click to subscribe for more Channel 4 News videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel4news?…)
 
That’s what they’re struggling with at Belgium’s Africa Museum, home of the world’s largest collection of African art.
 
Built on the site of what was once a human zoo, which showcased Africans as if they were animals, it’s now undergoing a massive renovation. But instead of removing controversial artefacts, they’re relabeling them.
 
Channel 4 News was allowed inside what’s been called the “last colonial museum.”

31 De ‘human zoos’ van Europa: waar zwarte mensen een attractie waren

9 jun. 2017

We horen er niets over in geschiedenislessen, maar tot diep in de 20e eeuw werden in Europa mensen uit Afrika ‘tentoongesteld’ in racistische ‘human zoos’. Filmmaker Stéphane Kaas maakte voor Vrij Nederland een indrukwekkende korte documenaire over deze uitwas van het kolonialisme.

Human Zoos

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In the late 19th and early 20th Century, a disturbing trend began to take hold, a number of African or southeast Asian people were displayed as one displays animals in zoos. These “Human Zoos” became increasingly popular.

The Bizarre Lives Of People In Human Zoos

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29 jun 2022 #slavery #weirdhistory #history

Hey, folks! Today we are going to dive into a disturbing topic that is rarely discussed and mostly left out of history books: Human Zoos. Most of you probably had no idea such a thing existed, and you cannot be blamed for it. It is certainly easier to forget than to remember and to face the shame of this abhorrent practice.

One of the first people to host a human exhibition was a man called P.T. Barnum. Back on August 11th, 1835 in New York City, he displayed a woman, named Joyce Heth. He presented her as “the 161-year-old woman” and claimed she was the former slave of Augustine Washington, George Washington’s father. She was said to have raised and taken care of the future president George Washington. None of these claims were true, but regardless, the exhibition was a huge success and attracted the attention of thousands of people.

Thousands of people from Asia and Africa were put on ships and brought to Europe and the United States to be displayed in human zoos.

Some of the people to be displayed were enslaved, while others were deceived with false promises to board the ships. Needless to say, those promises were under-delivered or were a complete scam.

Once they came to the New World, what awaited them was a recreation of their ‘natural environment’, in which they were made to display their customs and way of life.

The poor living and weather conditions made many of them sick and weak. If one of them died, the body was buried in the zoo’s garden, without the proper ceremony being observed.

Sounds horrible? You haven’t yet heard even half of it.

Video Editor & Motion Graphics: Abhishek Sharma

Voice-over Artist: Chris Redish

Music: Motionarray.com

Copyright © 2021 A Day In History. All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER: All materials in these videos are used for entertainment purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. If you are, or represent, the copyright owner of materials used in this video, and have an issue with the use of said material, please send an email to adayinhistory2021@gmail.com

r/MorbidReality Special: The History of Human Zoos.

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12 aug 202

The Human Zoo Science’s Dirty Little Secret pt 1 of 4 [MIRROR]

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A documentary film on the history of the relationship between evolutionism, Social Darwinism, racism, and eugenics.

32 King Leopold’s ghost still haunts the Congo

 
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18 sep. 2019

The #Congo’s natural resources have inspired a most unnatural history of greed and violence, which cost the lives of some 10 million.

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BRISBANE – In the heart of Africa lies a country called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a vast place with lush forests, vigorous rivers, and incredible riches such as gold, timber, uranium, cobalt, diamond, etc. These natural resources have inspired a most unnatural history of greed and violence. For over a century, the Congo has been haunted by the memories of its past. While other African nations have come to terms with a history of exploitation and colonisation, the Congo continues to relive the unshakable legacy of one man – King Leopold II of Belgium, whose ventures cost the lives of some 10 million.

33 Why is CONGO one of the POOREST COUNTRIES in the World? – VisualPolitik EN

8 apr. 2019

Congo has more than 80 million inhabitants living within a territory the size of Western Europe and is one of the poorest and most violent countries on Earth. Most of the population of Congo lives on less than a dollar a day. Starvation is common. And guerrilla warfare is so typical in this country that it’s no longer newsworthy. But their history is much more complex than those clickbait articles you’ve found on your twitter feed.

34 Inside the murky business of cobalt mining in DR Congo

20 feb. 2018

Cobalt is an essential component of batteries for smartphones and electric cars. Around 60% of it comes from just one country, DR Congo – and most of the metal is exported to China. But there are ethical concerns: Amnesty International says children and adults are mining cobalt in extremely hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, around a quarter of the cobalt extracted in DR Congo is sold through the black market. This report is from our France 2 colleagues, with Erin Ogunkeye. A programme prepared by Florence Viala, Gaëlle Essoo and Claire Pryde. http://www.france24.com/en/reportages

35 Le face à face – Faut-il déboulonner Léopold II ?

 
Que retenir de nos jours du roi Léopold II et de ses actes face au Congo ? Comment mettre la Belgique face à son histoire coloniale ? Faut-il déboulonner les statues de Léopold II ? Le débat est lancé dans le Face à face avec Pierre-Luc Plasman, historien du Congo belge à l’UCLouvain, et Moïse Essoh, porte-parole de Mémoire coloniale.

36 Léopold II au Congo – Les pires moments de l’histoire

8 jan. 2020

Léopold II a été roi des Belges. Il a aussi été à la tête d’un effroyable carnage passé sous le radar de l’histoire, mais pas sous celui de Charles. Récit d’une abomination dégoulinante de caoutchouc et de mains coupées.
 
Baveux, mais pas moqueur. Drôle, mais pas léger. Authentique, mais pas banal. Fabriqué à Montréal depuis 2003, URBANIA s’adresse à une communauté de gens curieux qui ont soif d’un média intelligent, irrévérencieux et fougueux. Notre mission: rendre l’ordinaire extraordinaire – Rejoignez-nous sur http://urbania.ca (http://urbania.ca/)

37 Nouveaux regards sur Léopold Ier et Léopold II

27 sep. 2016

En plein cœur de Bruxelles, à l’abri des regards indiscrets, les Archives du Palais royal renferment de précieux trésors, tel le fonds Goffinet. Celui-ci contient des milliers de documents archivés, confiés par Léopold Ier et Léopold II à leurs conseillers les plus intimes : Adrien, Constant et Auguste Goffinet. Cachés dans une cave murée du château d’Hyon, près de Mons, ces papiers sont réapparus par surprise lors de la destruction des lieux. Ils ont pu être sauvés grâce à la Fondation Roi Baudouin.
 
Correspondance privée, carnets de notes, récits de voyages, rapports de missions, ces archives témoignent des préoccupations publiques et privées des deux premiers souverains de notre pays et révèlent un siècle de l’Histoire de la Belgique. Elles apportent un éclairage neuf sur de nombreux thèmes : les mariages et successions, les finances, la politique, l’urbanisation et la colonisation.

38 Why Isn’t Congo as Rich as Saudi Arabia? Massive Tax Evasion

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26 jul. 2014

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in natural resources, yet the average citizen lives on only 72 cents a day. The foreign mining companies are getting rich while the general population is living in poverty. Many Congolese citizens are diging through the dirt on their hands and knees in search their fair share of the countries natural minerals. While there are taxes on the mining companies who benefit from the countries resources it is proving difficult to actually collect the money that is owed. Vocativ spoke to one tax inspector who explained that tax evasion and government fraud is rampant throughout the mining industry. So it seems that until those benefiting from the countries natural wealth start paying their fare share, many average citizens will have to continue digging through the mud to get by.
 
 
 

40 King Leopold’s ghost still haunts the Congo

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18 sep. 2019

The #Congo‘s natural resources have inspired a most unnatural history of greed and violence, which cost the lives of some 10 million.
 
BRISBANE – In the heart of Africa lies a country called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a vast place with lush forests, vigorous rivers, and incredible riches such as gold, timber, uranium, cobalt, diamond, etc. These natural resources have inspired a most unnatural history of greed and violence. For over a century, the Congo has been haunted by the memories of its past. While other African nations have come to terms with a history of exploitation and colonisation, the Congo continues to relive the unshakable legacy of one man – King Leopold II of Belgium, whose ventures cost the lives of some 10 million.
 
 

41 Belgian Princess Condemns Her Family’s Brutal Colonial History in Congo & Calls For Reparations

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9 jul. 2020

Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. have sparked a reckoning about racism and colonialism across the world, including in Belgium, where a growing movement is demanding the country address systemic racism and make amends for its violent colonial legacy. King Philippe issued an unprecedented statement “expressing regret” for Belgium’s brutal colonial rule in Congo under Leopold II, who ran the country as his personal fiefdom and under whose command millions of Congolese were enslaved and killed. “It’s an erased history,” says Belgo-Congolese journalist and activist Gia Abrassart. We also speak with Princess Esméralda, a member of the Belgian royal family and great-grandniece of Leopold II, who says the country has taken an important first step, but adds that “we have to go much farther.”

42 King Leopold II & the Congo Free State (1885-1908)


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3 aug. 2019

Between 1885 and 1908, the Belgian King Leopold II personally ruled the Congo Free State, which was also known as the Independent State of the Congo. Because he ruled the state personally, he had total control of its resources and had to answer to no one.

43 Can Belgian King heal wounds of colonial atrocities? | Inside Story

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8 jun. 2022

A legacy of Belgian colonialism in central Africa.
In the course of two centuries – millions of people are believed to have been killed or mutilated in what’s now modern day Democratic Republic of Congo.
That included the nation’s first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
The arrival of Belgium’s royal couple on their first visit to the country, is being billed as a way to move forward, but with such a long list of historical grievances – many Congolese are sceptical any real action or accountability can be achieved.

Presenter: Kim Vinnell

 

Guests:

Jonathan Offei-Ansah – Founder and Publisher of AfricaBriefing, a pan-African news magazine, based in London

Theodore Trefon – Researcher, Royal Museum for Central Africa

Phil Clark – Professor of International Politics at the School of Oriental & African Studies

44 King Leopold II – Life of a Man, Death of a People

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Produced/Edited by Ariana S. Rudess and Brian J. O’Connor for the National History Day Competition (2010)
 

45 In DR Congo, legacy of Belgium’s colonial violence lives on

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As DR Congo marks 60 years since independence from Belgian rule, only scant archival knowledge exists about the crimes committed during the colonial era, including the system of forced labour implemented by the Belgians. On Tuesday, Belgium’s King Philippe broke with tradition by acknowledging his ‘deepest regret’ over the country’s role in DR Congo’s recent history.

46 MOST BRUTAL: King Leopold II – Congo Massacre – Forgotten History

Back to menu        IMPORTANT CONTENT     Listening recommended 

 
 
As a result of the agreement from 1885 to 1908 the Congo Free State (in name only) and today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo was considered a colony of Belgium, but in reality, it was not. The Congo was the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium, who wanted to have a strong global monopoly on the rubber trade. Hosted by Colin Heaton. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production.

47 Léopold II, ou le roi “sans scrupule”.

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18 jul 2023

Léopold II a été le fondateur de l’État indépendant du Congo (1885-1908), un projet privé pris de sa propre initiative comme une union personnelle avec la Belgique. Grâce aux expéditions de Henry Morton Stanley, il a réussi à le faire reconnaître à la conférence de Berlin de 1884-1885, tout en le considérant et en l’administrant comme sa propriété personnelle. Léopold II a dirigé le pays en utilisant les mercenaires de la Force publique. Il a extrait une fortune du territoire, d’abord de l’ivoire et ensuite du caoutchouc par le travail forcé de la population indigène.
L’administration par Léopold II de l’État libre du Congo a été caractérisée par des atrocités et une brutalité systématique, incluant tortures, meurtres et l’amputation des mains d’hommes, femmes et enfants quand les quotas de production de caoutchouc n’étaient pas atteints. En 1890, George Washington Williams utilise le terme de « crimes contre l’humanité » pour décrire les pratiques de l’administration de Léopold au Congo.

Livre à lire: “Les Fantômes du roi Léopold”, de Adam Hochschield
Films utilisés : Lost city of Z (Intro)
Stanley adventures
Apocalypse now

48 New Age Daycare Keeps Its Kids In Cages

3 feb. 2020

Kids need to know early that their actions have consequences. These cages aren’t prisons; they’re a cube-shaped lesson!
 
Filmed in Montreal, Quebec 

Welcome to the world-famous channel, where we pull public pranks on unsuspecting Montreal residents and tourists.

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