What's the situation in Congo? Why are there two?

1997 May 17, a news of changing the country name came from within the African continent thousands of miles away: Zaire was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From the perspective of the study of country names, this is a new report and big information that cannot be ignored. The situation in Zaire deserves more attention. Because this is the fifth time that this African country has changed its name in a hundred years; Or use the title of this article to say, "Zaire's name changes in a hundred years". Looking around the world, this is a record number, which deserves a little elaboration.

Words 1 10 years ago, in a.d. 1885, Berlin, the capital of the German Empire, was crowned, 13 European countries (Germany, Britain, France, Russia, Belgium, Austria-Hungary, Portugal, etc. Together with the United States, many problems were solved in Bismarck (then German Prime Minister, an iron-fisted figure famous all over Europe and even the world), one of which was to establish a nominally independent "Kingdom of Congo" (in English, the same below), which was actually the personal territory of Belgian King Leopold II (Leopold II, 1835- 1909). This is the first formal unified name adopted by Zaire in modern history (actually imposed by imperialism).

Of course, European colonists didn't occupy this huge country until then. As early as the end of 15, Europeans began to invade. The Portuguese came first, followed by the Netherlands, Britain and France, while Belgium came last. 187 1 year, an English explorer and adventurer named Henry Martin Stanley (1841-kloc-0/904) was once a dual figure looking for another explorer and adventurer. By 1875, it was this Stanley who made a long-distance transcontinental "expedition" to the heart of Africa and its surrounding areas with the support and funding of Belgian King Leopold II and his colonial organization "Congo International Federation". He set off from Zanzibar Island on the east coast of the mainland, traveled westward, and then went down the Congo River to reach the Atlantic coast, which took 999 days. 1879 back to Congo. During this period, he worked hard for Wang Bi, trying to put a large area of land in the Congo River basin under the rule of Wang Bi. He coerced the local tribal chiefs into submission by force and bribery, forcing them to accept the slavery treaty, and finally contributed to the establishment of a "free country of Congo". The Berlin Conference made corresponding resolutions, but it just shows that this political and geographical entity has been recognized by international powers.

The so-called "free country" is an unprecedented "invention" made by European colonists in Africa in the19th century. This "free country" first appeared in southern Africa. 1854, the Boers, descendants of Dutch immigrants in South Africa, established two republics that enslaved blacks, one of which adopted the word "orange free state". Thirty years later, Belgian King Leopold II concocted another "free country" freak in Congo. Although the Berlin Conference solemnly decided to establish an independent country in Congo, in fact, this "free country" is neither "freedom" nor a country for local Africans, but at best it is synonymous with the fancy renovation of colonies (according to foreign literature reports, the word "freedom" actually means that it has nothing to do with the Congolese people in terms of exemption from import and export tariffs). Even this nominal thing has a short life. By1908165438+1October 28th, overnight, the whole "country" had changed, from the private property of King Bi to the colony directly managed and controlled by the Belgian state, and was completely colonized. At this time, the signboard of "Free State" was simply thrown away and renamed as "Belgium Congo", which was the first time that this country changed its name-of course, it was at the mercy of colonial rulers. However, it is necessary to add a little-known anecdote here: this "free state" actually wrote about the Qing government in China at that time, and even in July 1898 not far away, Wan Li specially sent personnel to Beijing to sign a trade treaty. Although there are only two paragraphs, it is one of the earliest treaties signed between China and black African countries. This matter has been recorded impressively in the history books of our country (see Diplomatic Relations of the Qing Draft (VIII).

"BiaCongo" has been used for a long time, more than twice as long as "Congo Free State", and has not changed after two world wars. It was not until1June 30, 960 that the colony ended 70 or 80 years of foreign rule and gained independence after a long struggle.

After the independence of the new country, it immediately took off the humiliating hat of "don't be comfortable" and adopted "Congo" as the country name. This is the second time to change the country name. More than a month later (15 August), Congo, a former French colony on the other side of the Congo River, also gained independence, and the country was named Congo. As a result, two countries with the same name appeared in Africa almost at the same time. In order to avoid confusion, the two Congolese countries attached the names of their respective capitals. Congo (formerly Belgian Congo) on the left bank of Congo River is called "Congo-Leopoldville", and its Chinese translation can be simplified as "Congo (Liberia)". Congo (formerly French Central Congo) on the right bank of Congo River is called Congo-Brazzaville or Congo (Brazzaville) for short. As far as Zaire is concerned, this is the third time to change its name. It hasn't changed much, but it has changed after all. However, the full names of the two countries are Congo and Right Bank. Later, it arrived at 1968 and was renamed the People's Republic of Congo. The other is called the Democratic Republic of Congo (the one on the left bank), which is still different. It is ok without the name of the capital.

1966, Leopoldville, the capital of Congo (Liberia), restored the traditional name known to local Africans in history: Kinshasa. Congo (Leopoldville) and its abbreviation Congo (Liberia) were changed to Congo (Kinshasa) or Congo (Kinshasa) for the fourth time.

Congo (DRC), that is, Congo (DRC), took more than three years. 1October 27th, 197 165438, the country name was changed to Republic 0f Zaire, and the old name was discontinued. This is for its fifth name change. This change is quite different from the previous changes. At best, this change only makes a fuss about the minor components of the country name. It is changeable and inseparable from its ancestors. As the core and basic part of the country name, the proper name "Congo" has never been touched by anyone. This change has "fundamentally" moved, so it is a big change in the name of the country. The proper name of this new country is taken from Zaire, the new name of Congo River. However, renaming this big river is obviously a measure on the one hand. The Congo on the other side seems indifferent to this and still calls it the Congo River. Naturally, the country name is still Congo.

The name "Zaire" has been used for 28 years. People think that this name may never change again. Even in this huge country, the recent civil war broke out suddenly and spread thousands of kilometers, but no one associated it with the change of the name of the country. However, there are unexpected events in the sky, "the city gate is on fire, which will affect the fish in the pool." Once upon a time, the capital of this country has changed its owner, and this time, the political change of hands actually involves the name of the country first, and the name of the country immediately changed-the original name of "Congo" and the original full name: "Democratic Republic of Congo" were restored. In this way, Zaire experienced the fifth name change, that is, it changed to the sixth name that has been used for many years.

Through the above review and introduction, we can see that the name change and change of this country are quite frequent, and these changes are closely related to the domestic and international political situation in various periods, which is the direct result of its domestic and international political changes. This proves once again that the change of country names is a barometer of political changes, which is no small matter.

Finally, in view of the readers' confusion and incomprehension about the changes of country names in the past 100 years, the six country names mentioned before and after are written with arrows in chronological order as follows, which is clear at a glance:

Congo Free State is Congo-Congo (Leopoldville) [Congo (Liberia) for short]-Congo (Kinshasa) [Congo (Kinshasa) for short]-Zaire-Democratic Republic of Congo.

At this time, a new problem-a new problem, or an old problem resurfaced: aren't these two Congo? ! Yes, in the case of using the full name, "Beijing flavor" is still very clear. On the other side of the river is the "Republic of Congo", and on this side of the river is the "Democratic Republic of Congo", with the name "well water rules out river water". But if you use it more often in your daily life, you can't be so complicated and verbose. You must abbreviate it. What is the abbreviation? This problem must be solved. Will the solution be to attach the abbreviation of the capital, that is, to use the method used in the past, that is, Congo (Brazzaville) and Congo (Kinshasa), or other better ways to distinguish? This seems to be a real problem. However, let's stop here for the time being. We'll wait and see how it turns out.